Help with outdoor sculpture....

[CroftonGraphics]

Hello,
I am doing a commission for a garden on the Costa De Luz in Andalucia, Spain.
So the weather is like Southern California, very hot mostly dry summers and cool/warm winters with wind/rain/storms.

I am making a half metre high sculpture for a garden.
The main sculptural part uses thin (half inch deep at the most) horizontal wooden shapes and is supported metal poles and yacht wire.

For aesthetic purposes, I want to make the main part out of wood. I was wondering if anyone could tell me a wood that would suit a sculpture in this environment ie one that will not warp much and the best treatment I can use to protect it. I also want a lighting element near the wood, possibly a candle or electrical light, so what about fireproof issues?

I will try to include a diagram if needed, but dont want to give away the sculpture design until I have made it in reality!
Many thanks,
James.

[tomdanahy]

I guess the first thought would be cedar, which could be stained or coated with a protective coat (Google treating cedar) or just left to weather. As for the lighting, a good outdoor weather proofed fixture and a gfi (Ground fault interuppter) to protect the viewers, would be my suggestion.

[evaldart]

Mahogany, teak, ipe...a few other species that do well outdoors, even unprotected. Most harware stores carry garden lights that do just fine outside...aim'em and stash'em in the brush.

[CroftonGraphics]

Ok thanks,
does anyone know if Spanish cedar is ok as it is a local material.
Mahogany would be nice but what about people who have issues about ecological sustainability, I am making it in a place where people think about that? I personally dont mind using limited materials for art usually.

[CroftonGraphics]

Hi there, this is to give you an idea of one of the many elements in the piece.
I would like to know if cedar/mahogany can be cut in this shape and fairly thinly,
what would be the thinnest so not to warp in the outside?
Any ideas.
If I had more time, I would have liked to look into making these shapes in ceramic or something technological, I would like to experiement with new materials in the future. I thought about carbon fibre as used in modern boat design, but again it will have to be something for future work.

Because of time and tools, I need to use wood. I have worked in Oakume wood a lot not mahogany or cedar so any more tips would be good thanks! I will show the end result when made.

[tomdanahy]

I think you have a real challenge with this and wood. The size, thickness and shape and the outdoor setting in my opinion will cause any of the woods to warp. Additionally, as this I believe will occur, the thin section will most certainly cause the piece to crack. An alternative could be a "sandwich" of wood on steel. The steel as the "meat" two wood pieces, one on each side as "bread". Even this is not totally a cure, since the attachment must be very secure, again not an easy task.

I think you may want to reconsider wood for this and look to other materials.

[CroftonGraphics]

Ok thanks, I might look to make these parts using metal instead and make the thin sides less curved. The original intention was that wood may be easier but looking into it I think metal is better, I like metal, my guess is stainless steel, treated somehow to protect against elements?

[The Forge]

I depend on what you envision the finished piece's exterior to look like. Do you want it shiny or dull, then stainless. If you want a weathered, rusty look, Corten will outlast everything else.