How to Create the Base of a Sculpture - Kevin Caron

Hey Kevin (and voice) can you give some advice on the base of the spike sculptures? Thanks

Thanks for this advice, Kevin! I'm currently making a steel, stone and timber sculpture that'll be 5' high and the owner does NOT want it bolted to their footpath next to their main entrance. So with your advice about balancing it all, I'll wait until I've completed the sculpture before I weld it to the very solid (1/4" thick) steel base I'm constructing. You've saved my bacon by watching this, because I was seriously considering welding the sculpture to the base straight up, before I've actually finished the sculpture. Your advice has made me think about exactly WHERE to place the sculpture before I weld it onto the base.

You're so lucky to have such an amazing place to do this!!
And you're so clever and so skilled to be able to make a living in such difficult times, when art isn't a necessity.
Thank you for the video.

Fantasic video Kevin. I'm thinking about welding some artistic pieces with my powerarc for fun and never even thought about the fact they would need a base of some kind.

I would like to know the material you used on those "Super Slinkies" of Roids. Thanks. Love the work, humor and approach.

awesome work.....

Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am a silversmith who occasionally works in steel. I am building a 600-700 lb piece in flat steel sheet shapes (silhouettes) bolted together with spacers and want to embed the base of the sculpture with perpendicular strips that form a grid pattern directly into a concrete slab on site. I was thinking 8 inches for depth with the perimeter extending 6-12" past the sculpture dimensions? Maybe I need and engineer too!

I love my state!!! Beautiful Az and all its amazing artist... Kevin, thank you for all your informative videos. Ive been welding out in the field for a few years now but trying to lean the artistic and creative aspect. Any pointers? Do u teach any classes here locally?

Kevin, I'd eventually like to build sculptures that could be suitable for public display. But I worry about the potential for someone to be injured should the piece break or fall, not to mention the liability I could face. To reduce that potential, I was curious if you have used, or considered having a professional engineer (PE) review your designs for any possible safety issues? As a heavy equipment designer I know a PE review and approval can go a long way in preventing accidents, and reducing liability.

Hey Kevin, sorry for the lack of detail in my question and I can't seem to reply to the comment on ipad. Anyhow, I'm using a uni-mig 180 gas/gas less mig welder with 0.9mm flux core wire. I think it's a 135amp machine.

Thanks for your help!

Since you so kindly answer questions I thought I'd add... In an older comment you said you started out with a 4x4 plate on a box trailer. I'm brand new to mig welding (done a brief course in oxy) and don't have a workshop yet. I do have a trailer though, so this sounds like a good idea for the time being. How thick should the plate be? Also, in my first and only trial run, no weld pool formed, just spatter and balls. I thought it was dirty or wrong metal (I just used scrap) but I grinned one pice of plate clean and the same thing. I thought it was polarity but pretty sure that's right too. Thought I'd swap in case it wasn't. Good idea or does it sound like another issue? Thanks very much.

Love your work Kevin! Very useful videos and inspiring and fantastic sculptures.

Hello Kevin, (and voice) I am a new(er) welder/metal sculptor. 2 years ago I took a welding glass and fell in love, as a 46yr old woman with all my kids grown and gone so I now have the time. Thank you for all the advice, and I wanted to ask if you make a living with your sculpting? Also did you start out with basic tools, or did you have the $ for the big stuff from the beginning? I have Oxy/Acetylene cut&weld, grinder, chopoff saw, hand drills, large air compressor and hammers etc,( I would LOVE a plasma cutter) but what would you recommend to get besides what I've mentioned? OK enough questions:0) thanks again! Bettina

Oh thank you so much for your reply! So 16 gauge steel with a steel plate top sounds both sturdy - and VERY heavy - any estimate on weight? 

Thanks for great information - very helpful even though I work much smaller scale. Would like to know what the display pedestals (shown with Dorothy's Nightmare) are made from. This is the first Kevin video I have watched so perhaps this info is in another one?

Thanks for the video; good work. I noted that all your 'bases are integral with the sculpture. This is ideal. I work in stone and depending on the setting in the landscape a base may be required to raise the height of the sculpture so it sits more comfortably and achieves a better scale amongst trees shrubs and the like. Where possible I use the same material for the base as for the sculpture i.e. granite on granite or sandstone on sandstone. Stability is an issue and one answer is to drill a couple of holes int the sculpture corresponding with those in the base. Stainless steel or steel reinforcing rods cut to length so 10cm enters the sculpture and 10cm into the base. I do not glue the rods so if the work has to be relocated at some stage the sculpture and the base can be moved separately..

Please stop acting surprised to being filmed. If you must keep the whole, "Hey Kevin, what are you doing?" bit, then just go straight into what you want to discuss rather than waste time trying to make us think you didn't know anybody was watching.

It doesn't enhance the information being presented to start by pretending to talk unrehearsed and disguising the fact that this is a planned video.

I enjoy your videos for their informational content, not their entertainment value.

Very cool! Nice work, too.

Thanks guys. Easy to forget how much engineering goes into sculpture.