[TheForge] surface finish

[Ries Niemi]

On Sunday, January 18, 2004, at 07:36 AM, schade@acegroup.cc wrote:

> I put together some stuff with a mig welder then grind down the welds. 
> I would like to restore the ground area to the same look as the 
> surrounding unforged mill scale. Heating with forge or torch doesn't 
> match up and sometimes warps the work.. Any ideas other than paint?
>
> I'm also interested in learning more about chemical patinas. Does 
> anyone use them? Are there any web sites that show how they look on 
> steel?
>
> Thanks. Bob.

I have never found a way to match original mill finish, especially on 
sheet. You just cant do it. I have a friend, a sculptor, who has a real 
fetish about all her sheet being mill finish. She makes the tiniest tig 
welds possible, uses an itty bitty sander to finish em, and she still 
has noticeable welds. Just small ones.
On stuff where the way it is built makes warpage less likely, I have 
had some success  sandblasting the entire piece, then heating it up 
again in the forge. That way you have a consistent finish over the 
whole piece.
But really, the answer to your question is- nothing will really work.

ries