[TheForge] oil/wax finish, blackened steel

[Jerry Frost]

Bealer wasn't really a blacksmith, he was a crafts author trying to save 
what he thought was a fading craft. I agree, the finish has inconsistent 
results, some things have been hanging in our weather for more than a decade 
without a tint of rust and other things have needed refinishing quickly.

Of course we could use the traditional wrought iron finish and paint it.

Jer
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mike shpeley" <willowforge at yahoo.ca>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 4:06 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] oil/wax finish, blackened steel


>
> Just want to say I was not that happy with the Bealer finish on craft work 
> and
> furniture I was selling so found this one. On here I think. Since I have 
> gotten
> good results with it on inside work, I should share it.   Behr Tung Oil 
> Finish.
> Available at Home Depot up here in the great white north.
> It gets a shiny  charcoal colour on a tumbled and wire wheeled piece. 
> Some
> pieces that have to be 6 or 7 years since applied are still looking good 
> after
> being mauled by the tourists.  It is designed to be used on wood but 
> sticks like
> glue to iron.  I also noticed that it comes off easy with lacquer thinner 
> and
> another coat can be applied  over an existing one. The coats need to be 
> applied
> thin. Says it contains some linseed oil along with petroleum  distillates 
> and a
> UV inhibitor so  I have used the latex gloves to apply. Will dry 
> completely in
> one day if left in the sun. I suspect it is a form of varnish because it 
> can be
> wiped clean with a damp cloth.
>
> Am Inspired here to test some charcoal dust in it to darken it more but 
> leery of
> upsetting the chemical balance.   It figures that the modern chemistry 
> should
> be able
>
> to come up with something  superior in a finish than something used a 
> hundred
> years ago.
>
>
> Mike
>
>