[TheForge] oil/wax finish, blackened steel

[Cheryl Brimson]

The formula is as follows:

1 Cup boiled linseed oil
1 Cup Turpentine
1/2 Cup of Beeswax
1/2 Tube of Stove Black

if you want to speed up the drying process, go to an artist supply and buy some Japan Dryer that artists use in oil paints to speed up the drying time.  Add about 1 tablespoon while you are blending it.  The only side effect is that if you are not using all of the mixture it will reduce the time you can keep it on hand.

Doug Merkel of the Great Plains Blacksmith Association uses a similar formula without the stove black.

1 Cup Johnson's Paste Wax
1 Cup Boiled Linseed Oil
1 Cup Turpentine
1/2 Cup shaved pieces of Beeswax
2 Tablespoons Japan Dryer

 Enjoy!

John Brimson




On Oct 23, 2010, at 5:51 PM, Jason Nass wrote:


> Any chance of you getting the recipe for this formula (proportions)? Sounds
> like a nice trouble free finishing juice.
> 
> Jason Nass - MacTalis Ironworks
> me at wargoth.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Cheryl Brimson
> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 4:51 PM
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] oil/wax finish, blackened steel
> 
> 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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