Who makes the metal art that is sold at It’s a Steel Thing?

Jeffrey makes all the pieces in his shop in London, Ontario.

A computerized (CNC) plasma cutter is used to “cut out” the pieces. They are then cleaned up with the use of varying grinding and finishing discs. Some of the pieces are welded to either a base or to a post. Others are simply meant to be hung up outside on a wall or fence.

Bram, Jeffrey’s son, has designed many of our unique creations.

What is plasma cutting?

Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma.

What will happen to the art if left outside?

Over time the steel will most certainly rust. We have seen some of our creations slowly oxidize (rust) even when placed in a humid environment (like a bathroom).

Is there anything that can be done to prevent the metal from rusting?

Clear coat: A clear Rust-Oleum or Tremclad can be applied to the metal. Before doing so, give the metal a cleaning with either a degreasing solvent or consider using an abrasive pad, like a 3M Scotch-Brite pad.

There is still a good chance the there will be some rusting over time, but the application of the clear coat will certainly slow it down. We would also recommend that you consider reapplying the clear coat every six months or so.

We have also found that you can clear coat a piece after the rusting process has begun. Once the “patina” is just the way you like it, apply the clear coat. This will help to freeze it in time but do remember to reapply the clear coat every few months.

Painting: The metal can most certainly be painted - there is a huge variety of paints available for metal. We do not consider ourselves painting experts but would recommend cleaning the piece before applying the paint. We have used metal paints by Rust-Oleum and Tremclad with excellent results.

You can also consider using acrylic paints.

Please keep in mind that the metal has a coating (called mill scale). It is probably best to remove the mill scale before painting. This can be done by placing the piece in cleaning strength vinegar (10%) for several hours - I usually wait for 12 to 24 hours. Wash it off and then dry it. We have found that the paint adheres to the metal more effectively this way.

Do you do custom work?

Custom work can be done. We recommend that you email us your idea(s) to:

itsasteelthing@gmail.com

We will do our best to let you know if think we can create what you are thinking of. The cost of a custom piece will vary based upon the amount of time required during the design process, the thickness of the steel, and the complexity of the piece.

Am I able to purchase your pieces online?

We do not yet have an online store - we are working on it. Our inventory is constantly changing and not all of the items we create are shown in our Gallery. If we run out of one item it might not be remade for some time as we continue to explore creating new things.

In the meantime, remember that you can find us in the East Village Market located at 630 Dundas St. We are usually open Wednesday through Saturdays.