[TheForge] Putting an oxide finish on mild steel?

[xlch58 at swbell.net]

I know it will be an umpopular thought, but if you are going to install 
outside paint may be the answer.  Eastwood makes a paint finish system 
to replicate the irridescence found on the old gold cad plated parts.   
It uses of course a gold base.  You may be able to coopt their appproach 
to get the effect you want.   I have a couple of art pieces with the 
finish you describe and it has held up for many years now indoors in 
north texas.   

The Eastfield product can be found at:

<http://www.eastwood.com/jump.jsp?itemID=728&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C389%2C390%2C397&KickerID=126&KICKER>


Charles

Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer wrote:

> Hi Bill:
> In my experience, the more effective the sealer is, the more it damps 
> the ephemeral surface oxide colors.
> Sure is purdy...for a while.
> I've concluded that , this being art, the only reasonable thing to 
> tell the inquiring client is than when the finish fades to rust, they 
> are to humbly return the piece and buy a new replacement....keep a 
> straight face.....
> Re copper/steel interface.. there is an old smithing tradition of 
> copper brazing in a cola fire...have' to guess the difference is the 
> amount of oxidation on the copper when both reach critical 
> temperature. I'd also guess the copper dam , being so conductive just 
> siphons enough heat from the steel at the edge of the weld, not to 
> reach liquidus.
>  We are fogged in solid...must think it's summer time outside 
> already...Pete F
>
> Woolley wrote:
>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> When I discovered how beautiful an effect I could get with an acetylene
>> torch on polished (it must be polished, bright, as in no mill scale, not
>> just wire brushed) mild steel ( purples,greens blues) I thought I was 
>> going
>> to be able to use this finish for all kinds of decorative stuff ( 
>> panels,
>> furniture) until I tried to fix it.  I found that if I sprayed a 
>> lacquer or
>> any kind of clear it would go like an ice blue color time and again. 
>> I have
>> managed to preserve the oxide colors with oils but these never dry so 
>> the
>> pieces can't  really be handled too well (not a good selling point for
>> furniture).  I have pretty much abandoned this finish. My two cents.
>>
>> Regareds,
>> Bill Woolley
>