TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:49 am

Is there a quick method for rusting steel? A chemical? I have a sheet of steel (14 x 44) that I am trying to get a nice light rusted surface too- in about a 3 days time.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:55 am

Never tried this but, knowing a little about chemistry, would suspect a mixture of peroxide, vinegar and salt will do the trick.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:01 am

coW wrote: Never tried this but, knowing a little about chemistry, would suspect a mixture of peroxide, vinegar and salt will do the trick.

i'll check it out- (dang..now I owe my wife an appology..she mentioned this last night)... :oops:

Now if i spray clear-coat on top - this should eleminate futher oxidation..right? I am looking to get it rusted - seal it, screenprint on the steel, then seal it again.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:02 am

I think the Hoodriders would urinate on the bare metal.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:03 am

Glenn wrote: I think the Hoodriders would urinate on the bare metal.

Yah- the wife wouldn't do that when i asked her too..(she said she was supportive..obviously NOT)

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:19 am

My wife used to be into crafting and we always just used vinegar and water. It would usually start having a nice mild patina in about a day or two. We would just spray it outside and leave it.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:24 am

mynameismud wrote: coW wrote: Never tried this but, knowing a little about chemistry, would suspect a mixture of peroxide, vinegar and salt will do the trick.

i'll check it out- (dang..now I owe my wife an appology..she mentioned this last night)... :oops:

Now if i spray clear-coat on top - this should eleminate futher oxidation..right? I am looking to get it rusted - seal it, screenprint on the steel, then seal it again.

I'm no expert on this, but you would have to make sure to wash the salt off really well first. The peroxide is there to supply oxygen to aid the rusting process.
Once you seal it and no oxygen gets to it, rusting should stop.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:31 am

mynameismud wrote: Glenn wrote: I think the Hoodriders would urinate on the bare metal.

Yah- the wife wouldn't do that when i asked her too..(she said she was supportive..obviously NOT)
You're right... female urine is more acidic than male urine.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:37 am

remember Murphy's First Law of patina: the speed at which a piece of steel rusts is inversely proportionate to it's value, and/or the amount of effort expended to prevent oxidation.

Strip all of the paint off an 88 Ford Tempo, and you can tailgate sanders for a decade of midwestern winters without any apparent damage to that bastard, yet the freshly repaired and painted doglegs on your barndoor will turn to lace after driving past a dew-covered front lawn.

Therefore, if you want it to rust quickly, screenprint it FIRST. once that scrap of steel has value, it will begin to disintegrate in four minutes or less. then, screenprint it again.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:42 am

bljones wrote: remember Murphy's First Law of patina: the speed at which a piece of steel rusts is inversely proportionate to it's value, and/or the amount of effort expended to prevent oxidation.

Strip all of the paint off an 88 Ford Tempo, and you can tailgate sanders for a decade of midwestern winters without any apparent damage to that bastard, yet the freshly repaired and painted doglegs on your barndoor will turn to lace after driving past a dew-covered front lawn.

Therefore, if you want it to rust quickly, screenprint it FIRST. once that scrap of steel has value, it will begin to disintegrate in four minutes or less. then, screenprint it again.

:lol:

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:44 am

wash it with some muriatic acid (the stuff you use for swimming pools).

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:53 am

coW wrote: mynameismud wrote: coW wrote: Never tried this but, knowing a little about chemistry, would suspect a mixture of peroxide, vinegar and salt will do the trick.

i'll check it out- (dang..now I owe my wife an appology..she mentioned this last night)... :oops:

Now if i spray clear-coat on top - this should eleminate futher oxidation..right? I am looking to get it rusted - seal it, screenprint on the steel, then seal it again.

I'm no expert on this, but you would have to make sure to wash the salt off really well first. The peroxide is there to supply oxygen to aid the rusting process.
Once you seal it and no oxygen gets to it, rusting should stop.

thanks- i'll check into this

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:54 am

bljones wrote: remember Murphy's First Law of patina: the speed at which a piece of steel rusts is inversely proportionate to it's value, and/or the amount of effort expended to prevent oxidation.

Strip all of the paint off an 88 Ford Tempo, and you can tailgate sanders for a decade of midwestern winters without any apparent damage to that bastard, yet the freshly repaired and painted doglegs on your barndoor will turn to lace after driving past a dew-covered front lawn.

Therefore, if you want it to rust quickly, screenprint it FIRST. once that scrap of steel has value, it will begin to disintegrate in four minutes or less. then, screenprint it again.

:-k good point...plus - the this will aid with the increase in value..(and where the heck have you been?)

Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:23 am

I just built a slate fireplace floor to ceiling. I used 3/4" angle iron as trim around the fireplace opening. I was going to paint it bronze or something, but since the slate I used had a bunch of marbled rust in it, I thought I'd just let it rust. I threw it out in the snow -it took about 3 weeks, but it's got a nice, even coat of rust on it.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:35 am

i've had the steel in the snow since tuesday - i just need it quicker then a few weeks. I will be trying the peroxide,salt,vinegar method tonight-

Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:42 am

make sure your piece of metal is meticulously cleaned and bare to get an even patina. I'd sand it first followed by a vinegar wash to make it thoroughly clean. Then wiz a way!

Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:25 am

Doesn't Coke/Pepsi rust metal Paul?

Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:20 am

hmmmm good ? Gary- I don't drink either..but will need to give it a try.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:34 am

I use hydrogen peroxide and table salt then mix it into a slush. I use it to age tin and thin metal. It starts rusting/aging in about 5 minutes. I usually let it set in the mix for an hour or so. The pic is crappy, this was clean tin to begin with.

Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:36 am

thats the ticket...thanks