Subject: Promoting rust

From: Jeff Reiter <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 1996 00:37:51 -0500

Watching the discussion on descaling steel, I have a question that comes to mind...

I make certain sculpture out of 16ga sheet steel (hot roll). I want to rust it - FAST - and then seal that rust. I have had *great* success using vinegar and other times I can't get vinegar to work at all!

It seems (1) that the steel must be clean, and (2) the humidity must be high and the steel should set in sunlight for optimum results. I simply lay the piece so the surface which I'm trying to rust is flat, apply vinegar liberally (usually with a small paint brush) and voila... literally overnight I can get a brilliant, orange, surface rust. ... but then again I can't (sometimes). The key is that I want a bright orange rust, not a dull, weathered sort of rust look.

Has anyone perfected a similar process who could shed some light on why I have such variances? I wonder if the sheet of 16ga hot roll that I use has anything to do with it? What other material would rust the steel in a more controlled manner?

Thanks in advance.

Jeff Reiter
Frankfort, IL
[email-masked]

---

From: Dan Nibbelink <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 1996 01:23:33 -0700

Jeff Reiter wrote:
> I make certain sculpture out of 16ga sheet steel (hot roll). I want to rust it - FAST - and then seal that rust. I have had *great* success 
using vinegar and o
> 
> It seems (1) that the steel must be clean, and (2) the humidity must be high and the steel should set in sunlight for optimum results. I simply 
lay the piece s
> 
> Has anyone perfected a similar process who could shed some light on why I have such variances? I wonder if the sheet of 16ga hot roll that I use 
has anything t
> [email-masked]

At the Rocky Mountain Smith Spring Workshop at Mike Boone’s shop in 
Dolores, Colorado, June 1&2:
	
	Ken Riley let us in on several “secrets”. His big secret was how 
to make a rust finish quickly (wait a minute, I thought we wanted to get 
rid of rust. DN). The recipe: Add between six drops and a full dropper of 
muratic acid to pint of ordinary drugstore 3% hydrogen peroxide. The more 
acid, the quicker and darker the rust -- experiment. Heat your iron so 
that when you spray with the solution it vaporizes but does not boil. An 
ordinary spritzer head will screw onto the peroxide bottle. When the 
color is to your liking wash with soapy water, dry and wax finish for 
interior use. Outside it will continue to rust.

-- 
Dan Nibbelink
RedHawk Forge
Berthoud, Colorado
[email-masked]
http://www.csn.net/~dannibb