It’s not often that artists seek out black oxide finishing suppliers but when they do, the results can be quite dramatic -- and Cleveland Black Oxide can boast that its work is seen in the finest galleries.
Artist and sculptor Anne Lindberg of Kansas City, MO has her work widely exhibited in the U.S. and throughout the world. Some years ago Anne began experimenting with projects using piano wire and stainless steel wire and rods of varying thickness. She fastened these wire rods, sometimes thousands of them, onto a backing material in varying shapes and densities giving a striking three dimensional effect. Her work is displayed over a large area in the gallery and invites the viewer to apply their own interpretations. She often combines wood or other material with the wire to add dimension and achieve a particular visual effect. The trick, she says, is to have the rods bend with just the right arc.
In experimenting with paint and other surface treatments, Anne discovered that black oxide would give the flat black color she was searching for without altering the thickness of the stainless wire or its bending properties. Unlike paint or powder coating, black oxide is a surface conversion process and does not alter the physical dimensions of the part. Finishes can range from flat to shiny depending on surface conditions and post process treatments.
David Tatham, president of Cleveland Black Oxide says: “We see all kinds of parts come in for black oxide but this has to be one of the most interesting and beautiful applications. We’re proud that Anne chose us to be a partner in her work.”
My company fabricates aluminum and steel pedestrian bridge railing among other bridge parts. We recently got an aluminum railing job that called for “Type I” anodizing per MIL-A-8625. There was no anodic coating thickness called out. We are not anodizers and we are at a loss as to how to write up a meaningful anodizing specification for this railing.
