[TheForge] preserving heat colors

[Hochewa at aol.com]

To All,
Heat colors are not the color of the oxide that has formed.  The oxide 
actually is transparent and the colors you see are the refraction of light just like 
a prism.  The oxides in thickness are multiples of the wavelength of the 
color you see.  When you add a protective layer you add to the thickness of the 
refracting layer and you change the color.
I ahve done several pieces that also have gone much more blue than I wanted 
but they also retain other colors.  It appears that if you thin the oxide layer 
you put on at first and then add a layer of acryllic you may end you where 
you want to be.  If the pieces are for indoor use maybe a thin layer of really 
good wax may be enough.
I like the effect ot the temper colors.  
Keep playing with them.  You may find something we all can use.

Regards,

Hochewa

In a message dated 3/13/2005 1:06:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
gladish at cnw.com writes:
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