Pangolin wins bronze

Chalford, Gloucestershire-based Pangolin is one of the few foundries still practicing the traditional skills of lost wax block investment casting. The foundry also has a sand molding facility where very large sculptures can be moulded. SIFMIG 968 is a copper wire The silicon and manganese content helps provide good flow properties and wear resistance. It has a melting point of 980 – 1020°C and an Ultimate Tensile Strength of 350 N/mm2. This wire is available in 0.8mm, 1.0mm and 1.2mm diameters on both 4kg and 12.5kg spools. Pangolin uses the SIFMIG 968 copper wire from Weldability-Sif for both welding and surfacing work on the bronze sculptures to help produce attractive coloration of the bronze. It contains 3% silicon and 1% manganese and is used for welding materials of similar composition, copper alloys as well as for MIG brazing of steels and dissimilar applications. When the mould is broken open, the raw cast sculpture is revealed and the task of chasing and metalworking the sculpture can begin. After cracks have been filled with bronze, the runners and risers are removed and the holes are filled with welded metal and the texture is punched back where relevant. In the world of art, welding is very often used to repair damaged bronze and other metal statues and castings including tubular components. Recent trends in artistic metalwork have also driven an increase in the use of welding and brazing process in the creation of new pieces. Pictured: Scottish sculptor and artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi's 'Vulcan' a 7.5 metres, high bronze sculpture.