Plasma Cutter Art
Plasma cutting uses highly pressurized electricity and inert gas to cut through hard metals and other materials. When gas is blown through a plasma cutter’s nozzle, it’s sparked by an electrical arc --- generating a torch that’s hot enough (15,000 Celsius) and strong enough to cut through steel. The edge of such a cut is so smooth that it hardly leaves any residue – making it the perfect choice to create elaborate works of art.
The history of the plasma cutter started during World War II when aircraft production was in high demand. To speed up the manufacturing process, engineers invented plasma welding and they used it to facilitate the creation of aircraft body parts. Compared to previous welding techniques, plasma welding was not only faster, it was even stronger as well.
In the 1960’s, the technique behind plasma welding improved to a point that when the temperature of compressed gas increased and when the gas stream narrowed, the cuts became more accurate.
Today, computer operated plasma cutters operate on large industrial projects. But for the fine artist, a hand held cutter is most sufficient. They’re much smaller than their industrial counterparts, but they’re still very powerful and accurate. If you’ve ever seen a piece of metal art that contained intricate details, its artist probably used a plasma cutter art tool.
In a way, a plasma artist is almost like a painter. A plasma artist’s canvas is metal and his or her brush is actually a cutter. To create a shape, a plasma artist cuts a piece of metal along a stencil (or freehand). When finished, she or he may use the cutter to texturize the shape with intricate carvings or details. Experienced plasma artists can bend metals with a plasma cutter art tool for an even more dramatic effect.
Sheet metal is the typical metal of choice among plasma artists, but its delicacy prevents it from being displayed outside or as a large sculpture. Plasma art is indoor art often captured in the form of an ornament of some type or a picture or mirror frame.
If you’re interested in buying plasma art, you should note that its final cost covers the artist’s labor more than the cost of the metal. Sheet metal is inexpensive and so is the tool used to manipulate it. An artwork’s asking price addresses the piece’s aesthetic value, artist’s history, and detail rather than the materials used to make it.
Why not search the internet to see what type of plasma cutter art is available? You might be surprised at what you find. Plasma cutter art comes in a wide variety of prices, styles, and availability – meaning that if you don't see anything that you like right away, you can probably commission a plasma artist to create a piece just for you.