[TheForge] oil/wax finish, blackened steel

[Cheryl Brimson]

A blacksmith acquaintance of mine in Florida uses a formula that is composed of linseed oil, beeswax, turpentine and stove black.  He mixes it up on the stove in a double boiler and heats and blends all the ingredients and pours it into an airtight can.  When the piece is finished he heats it up and brushes all the scale off then wipes it down with a rag he keeps in the can.  It gives a pretty good finish and seems to hold up well as long as it is not outside in the weather.  John Brimson
On Oct 23, 2010, at 3:39 PM, Bruce Freeman wrote:

> Andy,
> Before you give up, why not grab some fire scale from your anvil stand
> (use a magnet) and mix it with some oil, then apply that hot -- to an
> unheated piece?  I've always suspected that might give a similar
> finish as oiled fire scale, but have never had an opportunity to try
> it.  Do this on a test piece, of course.
> 
> On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Andy Gladish <gladish at cablerocket.com> wrote:
>> Thanks everybody- I had a brain fart and thought that just heating it enough
>> to kind of burn the wax would give me a nice color, since that's sort of how
>> it works on small forged items.
>> Of course, really what happens it that the wax enhances the color of the
>> fire scale, so it's heat it in the forge or do it with chemicals.
>> Lots of good info here.
>> A.G.
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Bruce
> NJ
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