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A bespoke sculpture made from a budding metalworker has been protected against the elements, thanks to a local galvanizing company.

East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd was called upon to galvanize a life-sized sculpture of a stag for 20-year-old, Cambridgeshire-based sculptor creator, Harry Jackson.

Harry explained, “I thoroughly enjoy creating and designing bespoke steel pieces of art. My most recent project is a stag sculpture, which is a belated Christmas gift for my nan as she really wanted something eye-catching and unique for her garden.

“Having learned many of the skills necessary through my current role as a Welder and Fabricator at a nuclear waste container company, my hobby has developed over the years. Unfortunately, my biggest challenge is the equipment – I don’t have the funds available to splash out on all the specialist tools and machines, so I’ve had to be creative and adapt on my own so that I can pursue this passion.”

Standing at 2m tall (from feet to antlers), the stag sculpture was first designed digitally before being cut out of 2mm hot rolled mild steel sheets using Harry’s homemade CNC plasma cutter. All parts were then cleaned through a wire wheel, bent on a homemade press brake, and finally tacked together and dressed down in preparation for galvanizing.

“After creation, I enlisted the help of East Anglian Galvanizing to finish the piece off,” Harry continued. “I’ve worked with them before when I galvanized two other animal sculptures, and they were incredibly helpful.

“With no prior knowledge or experience in this industry, I nervously approached them requesting their help to protect the pieces. I needn’t have worried – they told me exactly what I needed to do to ensure they were safe to dip, and the friendly team supported me throughout the entire process. And, when completed, I was so impressed – the finish was impeccable! I’ll be visiting them again soon with my next project.”

The galvanizing process saw the stag entirely dipped in a large bath of molten zinc at 450oc, ensuring it’s protected from corrosion for more than 70 years.

Jake Pinner, Sales Manager at East Anglian Galvanizing added: “Harry is exceptionally talented, and it’s been a real pleasure supporting him in galvanizing his sculptures. It’s so very refreshing to see someone of his age take such an interest in this sector, and be so proactive and dynamic in approaching us. We’ve enjoyed teaching Harry more about the process and requirements, and very much look forward to welcoming him to the plant again with his future projects.”

East Anglian Galvanizing is part of Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, the largest hot-dip galvanizing organisation in the UK with a history dating back over 150 years. With 14 plants strategically placed across the country, the firm offers a truly national galvanizing service.

By Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd

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