Finish for ornamental ironwork

[Cobbler]

I make the odd item such as a wine rack from horseshoes (thanks @hotponyshoes) to get a appropriate finish I’ve been using stove black, but it’s so messy to use & continues to rub off onto everything. Has anyone got any ideas what gives a similar look, but is more stable. I’ve tried paint, but it doesn’t look right, there must be something, just need to know what.

 

[MattF]

Linseed oil & graphite powder mix, applied to hot or cold metal. There's oil blackening too. Immerse the hot metal in oil.

They'll all give a slightly different finish, in appearance.

I use a beeswax, turpentine & graphite powder mix on my gear. That's the finish this has.



That doesn't show too well on smooth surfaces though. Better on rough surfaces.

 

[Cobbler]

@MattF i think the stove black is graphite mixed with some sort of wax, I really wanted some sort of ready mixed stuff if possible.

 

[Gragson]

I use a beeswax, turpentine & graphite powder mix on my gear.

I really wanted some sort of ready mixed stuff if possible.

I nicked this mix idea from Matt and have used on a lot of metalwork for a fair while now.
Components are pretty cheap, it's pretty quick to knock up a batch, and it goes a long way

 

[Hitch]

I used to burnish stuff with a cup brush, warm it up and give it a good couple of coats of dark wax. Follow it with a coat of clear wax.

 

[Mark 2]

Iron paste?

 

[nickk]

I have a deep bosh by the forge for hot quenching,for best results wire brush after withdrawing from fire to get rid of scale.

 

[Cobbler]

Thanks all, I think I will try Hitch’s method with the wax. The graphite & oil is going to be as messy as stove black, ok for a workshop but it needs something that doesn’t rub of in someone’s house.

 

[Onoff]

Phosphoric acid should turn the steel black.....or is the the rust on the steel it turns black?

 

[Agrismith]

Hitchs method but don't need particularly dark wax. Infact I have a few items that where heated and covered in beeswax they are forged pieces and have quite a dark look to them.

If you want something darker What about gun blue??

 

[Cobbler]

Hitchs method but don't need particularly dark wax. Infact I have a few items that where heated and covered in beeswax they are forged pieces and have quite a dark look to them.

If you want something darker What about gun blue??

Gun blue is over the top for what I want, thanks though, I will bear it in mind

 

[Turbo]

Citric acid turns steel a nice dark grey colour and looks good with some wax over it.

I regularly use @MattF beeswax/turps/graphite mix on bare steel and it leaves a very nice finish that doesn't rub off and leave black marks. The graphite is suspended in the wax and doesn't leave a mark. After applying it your hands are clean and soft from the beeswax.

 

[MattF]

After applying it your hands are clean and soft from the beeswax.

Dual function. Metal finish & handcare.