Leonard Metal Design is specialised in bespoke architectural stainless steel projects and offers high standard of craftsmanship with emphasis on unusual stainless steel shaping.
For its unique properties, stainless steel, in architecture and sculpture, pushes( forces ) an ordinary steel out of usage. Not that it only offers exclusive esthetic look and almost no maintenance. It can be polished, shaped, forged, painted, coloured, pressed …in to any destined object. Effective design, correct grade choice and appropriate surface finish might significantly reduce your cost. All stainless steel products made by Leonard Metal Design are specially treated by applying Cyndan Stainless Steel Sentry advanced protective formulation, when applied to the rejuvenated stainless steel, microscopically coats and protects it against atmospheric corrosion.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy with 10.5 % – 11 % of chromium content by mass. Stainless steel does not readily corrode or rust with water as ordinary steel does. All stainless steels have a high resistance to corrosion. This resistance to attack is due to the naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide film formed on the surface of the steel. Although extremely thin, this invisible, inert film is tightly adherent to the metal and well protective in wide range of corrosive media. The film is rapidly self repairing in the presence of oxygen, and damage by abrasion, cutting or machining is quickly repaired. Stainless steel can stain in extreme conditions such as low oxygen, acidic environment, high chloride environment , lack of material combination, lack of welding or lack of joining with any other ferric materials. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment the alloy must endure. It is crucial to select right techniques, right abrasives and fasteners to produce high end stainless steel products. At the present Australian market offers wide range of stainless steel materials.
Leonard Metal Design has a great experience with new 445- Japanese marine grade stainless steel with the corrosion resistance of 316 or better. It resists sea salt for safe performance over a long life. Unlike grade 316 , 445 has a ferritic micro-structure and certain element of cooper and titanium, which makes 445 easier to fabricate than most of stainless steel grades. 445 has excellent punchability, formability, bendability and weldability. 445 behaves like mild steel- cleaner cuts, less distortion and it is cost saving.
Leonard Metal Design strongly recommends 445 for sculptural art work, hammered- texture surfaces, or any hand crafted techniques.