Metal Stakes

Some garden ornaments may require a metal stake fitted to them so they can be freestanding, making them a more impressive and outstanding garden feature.

A quick and easy way to mount a metal rod in your ornament when casting is to use a piece of flat metal bar or rod which has a double bend in it like a dog-leg shape.

The bar in the picture is a piece of 10mm x 3mm x 250mm flat bar and can be easily bent using a bench vice and a hammer, this size metal is ideal for small garden sculpture ornaments, the length and size can be adjusted to suit the ornament easily.

The mould is filled in the normal way with a wet cement mix to the correct level and then the metal stake or rod can be inserted into the wet cement and supported whilst the mix cures.

Once the ornament is dry the ornament and stake can be painted, the stake is best painted black or green to help blend into the background and give a more pleasing effect although there are no hard and fast rules.

Hooks and Brackets

Hooks and brackets are best made from galvanised metal wire or strap, it is more expensive than ordinary wire or metal but less likely to rust out.

Metal can be easily shaped using a vice and hammer or pliers for bending wire for hooks.

Fill mould with a wet mix and add brackets.

Or you can use a hook.