corten versus 'Weathering steel'

[chunkolini]

Im just pricing up for a job involving corten steel.
Im going to go with the corten Mig wire I'd rather not get this wrong as there will be some decorative surface welding involved
Ive seen 'weathering steel' touted as being a match for corten and quite a bit cheaper almost like generic drugs are the same as branded versions.
is it as simple as this?
my gut feeling is to play it safe and stick with the branded version, but my wallet is saying at least check out the alternatives.
its also interesting to know the facts
Project is a large welsh dragon made in this style so lots of welding and and faffing about.
he round bar elements are also going to be corten

Ive just got some rough prices the weathering steel saves about £400 on the whole package

 

[Agroshield]

Please read:

Weathering steel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"U.S. Steel (USS) holds the registered trademark on the name COR-TEN."

It is the same reason people cannot call their cast iron Meehanite even though the process through which it is produced and its chemical composition is identical.

 

[Bullet2012]

cant help with your question, but if you need a life model for the dragon, I can lend you SWMBO.

 

[chunkolini]

Cheers guys I did see that on wiki and thought 'is that so?
so it is as simple as that
makes life a bit cheaper'

 

[Parm]

What percentage is the 400 quid of the total price?

If not a huge amount then just play safe to avoid come backs, particularly if your going for the expensive wire

 

[hotponyshoes]

If it's coming from a decent source then weathering steel will be the sane thing.
Corten is a trademark.

Genuine corten usually has a good surface finish, good dimension tolerance and is pretty flat.
Budget version may not match up to it in those regards but that may not be an issue for you.
Or, it might, as an uneven surface finish may cause it to weather unevenly visually?

 

[chunkolini]

Yep Ive decided to stick with the real McCoy.
Cutting corners is never a good idea

 

[Brad93]

It's a percent or so copper that causes it to become weathering steel.

No direct experience of the two types but if it's anything like Hardox, the name brand stuff is better.

 

[Erie Fred]

What is going to stop the streaming rust stains on the concrete below ?

 

[Brad93]

What is going to stop the streaming rust stains on the concrete below ?

You don't get that once you weather it with the special solutions

 

[chunkolini]

Something else to research.
Thanks

 

[Barking Mat]

Do I risk a death sentence for saying it looks like a sea horse ?

 

[bourbon]

cant help with your question, but if you need a life model for the dragon, I can lend you SWMBO.

Where do the forum members send the flowers if your Missus reads this!!!!!

 

[chunkolini]

Do I risk a death sentence for saying it looks like a sea horse ?

Well spotted
The image is indeed a representation of Hippocampus.
Picture is to illustrate how Dragon will be made

 

[Barking Mat]

Idris.

 

[Bladevane]

FWIW I bought some weathering steel to cut out a screen and after 6 years it looks the same as other sheet products I made using mild steel. If your customer wants to pay for special steel then fine, otherwise I personally would stick with mild steel.

 

[morssdn]

Do I risk a death sentence for saying it looks like a sea horse ?

Especially as the image title is ‘Clacton seahorse’….

 

[Barking Mat]

Especially as the image title is ‘Clacton seahorse’….

Ahh, well spotted, I hadn't clicked on the image.