[TheForge] rusting

[Grant Marcoux]

Hi Karen:   Salt will work, but a better/faster bet is a solution like
Birchwood Casey Tool-Black.  First, clean/degrease metal with something like
TSP, and dry.

Then swab on solution with wool dauber and let stand, preferably in humid
(not wet) area until surface is evenly rusted.  This may take several
applications over several days.  Once metal is evenly rusted, "card" this
finish with a wool sock or nylon brush to remove powdery rust and get down
to a solid orangey-brown color.  Deepen finish with additional coats of
solution and carding

Once you have a coating of brown rust that has adhered to surface and has
been carded down to an even color, finish with traditional
beeswax-linseed-turpentine for a "plum-brown" color that will have the
irregular look of aged metal.

I use this finish method for work I want to appear aged/contemporaneous to
surroundings.  I also use this finishing method for muzzleloader barrels,
but with a stronger-biting acid colorant.

Let me know how this works out for you

Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Lucky7Steel
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 6:39 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] rusting


Anyone know a safer fairly quick way to rust steel other than using Muriatic
acid? Too toxic for me i fear. Salt?


~Karen~
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