[TheForge] preserving heat colors

[Gladish Family]

Ask Paul Thorne- www.thornemetals.com
I don't know if they're on his website, but he has done some fantastic 
bowls that were colored, just like you describe, with a torch, but I 
have no idea what he used to finish them. They definitely DO have some 
kind of clear finish...maybe an acrylic lacquer.
Andy G.

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