[TheForge] Oil Finish

Mon Nov 11 07:43:00 2002

        Bill, A couple of suggestions are to try some test pieces with an
oil going on with the piece heated and this will darken the finish a lot.
It does however take some time to heat a whole table and apply finish, but
with a flamethrower/weedburner style torch it's not impossible.
        Another option is to do the oil finish, take black shoe polish,
apply, let dry, then wax over and see what you get.  Shoe polish is a nice
tint, but I don't know if it will yield a full dark finish your
after.........but it's an option to try.
        Another dark finish folks seem to like is painting the item black,
then sanding to yield highlights all the way to bare metal on the high
spots, then bees waxing the whole project to seal.......it looks great, but
takes some time.  If they are looking for a consistent dark finish that
would be the last one I'd try as the contrasts make it a different animal
all together.
        I've also heard of folks adding graphite to paint, applying, then
wiping down - but this yields a slight grey tone that might not go with the
other "dark" piece.
        I'm assuming your trying to match the last finish you did for them.
There is always the motor oil to fall back on to give the same results, but
these are other ideas to try for future projects.

Ralph


----- Original Message -----
From: "Woolley" <[email protected]>
To: "Forge list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 9:00 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Oil Finish


> Greetings,
>
> I'm fabricating some tables with 5/8 square mild steel.  The millscale
> is intact/untouched in the process.  The last ones I did had a used
> motor oil then light paste wax finish.  Seems to darken the steel just
> enough to give a pleasing look. (the client likes it)  I don't have the
> time to experiment with every oil known to man, nor do I think it would
> make any difference.  I don't want to use the used motor oil anymore.
> Does anyone have any favorite quick finishes that would have the same
> effect?  I hope this isn't too tired a subject.  Thanks.
>
> Regards,
> Bill Woolley
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