[TheForge] more on patinas, etc.

[debmiller at fuse.net]

Isn't it a joy working with interior designers................!
I use diluted vinegar to descale hot rolled. It works like a champ, it's cheap and safer that muriatic, in my experience. Happy Hammering!
Ray Miller
Cincinnati

---- Cindy and James <jallcorn at suddenlink.net> wrote: 
> Yesterday (this morning actually) I posted an epistle on a bed, problems 
> with patina going away when clear coated, etc.  An update...
> 
> I convinced the designer/artist to do the "right thing" and call the 
> client for a consultation... see what SHE said about it.  If SHE liked 
> it, it didn't matter what either of us thought as she is writing the 
> check!!!  Well, she did, but first a drum roll.  Note, this was a big 
> step for my designer as she has had FREE REIGN to design whatever for 
> the client with no input from the client, just an occasional 'come and 
> look' session.  There is a lot of stress in that type of work, I never 
> knew that till I started working with her.
> 
> The artist went to her home and gathered up a bunch of stuff, bedding, 
> exotic and expensive bed covers, etc., plus a huge mink throw.  I was 
> left to construct a mock up box springs and mattress.  Did this out of 
> cardboard, 5 gallon buckets, etc.  She put a dust ruffle, sheets, 
> comforter, Battenburg lace (whatever that is) bedspread, several pillows 
> (8 total), another silk comforter and the mink throw tossed on the 
> corner.  She probably brought $5000 worth of bed covers.  Lighting was 
> set as best we could in my shop.
> 
> You get the picture, all this white silk, etc. in a blacksmith shop.  
> Looked good though, and this point is to be made:  You get one chance to 
> make a good first impression.  The bed would NOT have shown as well 
> without being "dressed".  Most people CANNOT see the whole from the 
> parts, cannot visualize the end result.  You have to show them.  I have 
> trouble with that as I am 98% technically minded.
> 
> Client came in at 5:15 pm.  She was speechless for about 30 seconds, 
> then raved for a good hour and a half.  She was completely blown away.  
> She insisted that she write the check for the agreed upon amount right 
> then and said she would pay more when her finances got better.  (Money 
> isn't a problem, this is just HER personal play money account.  She is 
> building a multi-million dollar home.)  Said she would call her movers 
> to come get the piece.  Now I need to put 2 or 3 more coats of urethane 
> before they get there.
> 
> We felt a lot better.
> 
> I took the designer to dinner at a local cafeteria.  Need to find a 
> bottle of Scotch...
> 
> But something I have learned the hard way about patinas that the rest of 
> you probably know, and thanks to Grover for his reply to my first post.  
> Yes, different metals react differently with various chemical formulas.  
> Even using a steel brush on a grinder will cause odd things to happen, 
> or nothing at all, which may be worse!  In my case, I had various metals 
> from A36 to cast iron, cast steel and various weld deposits, some TIG, 
> some Mig, some stick, some Nickel, etc..  But all of those were minor 
> because my project was so big and the headboard so massive.  The 
> headboard overpowered all the other differences and that is what was so 
> scary.
> 
> As I said, I used mild steel hot rolled plate for the headboard (14 
> ga).  If I do this again with hot rolled, I will prepare the steel while 
> it is still in plate form, before cutting, etc.  I will descale it (get 
> rid of the mill scale) by using an acid bath, probably 1/3 muratic and 
> 2/3 distilled water.  That may take a while.  Then, once the scale is 
> gone, the chemicals will hopefully react with some semblance of what the 
> bottle says will happen.
> 
> OR, I will use COLD ROLLED PLATE.  Cold rolled does not have the scale 
> on it, so none of the problems inherent with the mill scale.  It costs 
> more and is harder to find.
> 
> Of course, something else will come up.
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