[TheForge] Wrought iron patina...

[Ralph E Douglass]

Andy Vida wrote:
> 
> OK, I'm wondering about something.
> 
> I just finished a wrought iron cuff for a friend that I made from an
> old railroad spike (there are millions of them all over the tracks in
> places like NJ).  It is a plain cuff, nothing fancy at all.  Given my
> almost absolute lack of tools these days, I ground the finish by hand
> on a stone.  Came out rather nicely.  I was going to etch is for grain,
> but my friend wanted a smooth finish, so I tried my nickel patina.
> This produced a really nice deep purple oxide, quite pleasing to the
> eye, much like a rokusho patina on shakudo (shakudo is an alloy commonly
> of 4% gold in copper).
> 
> Well, I have another little bracelet, in fact from the same spike,
> that I thought I'd try the patina on.  The result is a very dull
> and dark gray, approaching black.  I'm wondering why the difference
> in result, especially given that each object came from the same piece
> of wrought iron.  The only difference is that I etched the latter in
> HCl.  I'm pretty sure that must be the reason that they are different,
> but what I would like to know is why.  Anyone have any ideas?
> 
>         -Andy

Andy,
same forge and fuel? I have no clue but I thought I would ask.

Ralph
-- 




                                                        
					
"Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision."