Weathering materials

[Ben88]

I've got a few projects that I need to weather one of them is mild steel that I want to rust up I keep dipping it in viniger water which seems to have speeded up the rusting now I want to seal it will clear lacquer be okay to use on it or is there something better? An another project is an old weathered Aluminium pot wants a stand making for it but wants the stand to have the same weathered look as the pot. Apart from leaving it out for the elements is there a quicker way to speed up the weathering look?

 

[chunkolini]

Ammonium Chloride is best for mild steel, make a saturated solution, with a little washing up liquid in it. Scrub it on with a scouring pad and leave somewhere damp for a few days; job done.
To seal it use cheap yacht varnish, two coats lasts about 2 years outside.
First photo shows it just after varnishing second image two years later.

Big thanks to forum member Freddy0309 for the updated photo. Seahorse lives outsideAldi at Clacton on Sea.

 

[brightspark]

wow English people coming out of aldi

 

[Ben88]

Wow I really like that did you make that? the proofs in the pudding there cheers pal

 

[chunkolini]

Yep; one of mine.
it was great to get a photo of it after a couple of years in the great outdoors.
I would suggest play about with bits of scrap first to see how finishes develop.

 

[Ben88]

How did it end up outside of store was it your design an they bought it off you or did they come to you with what they wanted? Yeah it's weathered a real treat has that, I'd be proud as to have something like that on show for everyone to see

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Apparently Ankor wax is another product for sealing rust to stop it getting worse.

Colin

 

[brightspark]

Hi, Apparently Ankor wax is another product for sealing rust to stop it getting worse.

Colin

kurust

 

[doubleboost]

If you need something to rust just fasten it to a Land Rover chassis
Instant result lol

 

[brightspark]

If you need something to rust just fasten it to a Land Rover chassis
Instant result lol

pmsl when u buy one u automatically get a free welder with them

 

[Kent]

Ammonium Chloride is best for mild steel, make a saturated solution, with a little washing up liquid in it. Scrub it on with a scouring pad and leave somewhere damp for a few days; job done.
To seal it use cheap yacht varnish, two coats lasts about 2 years outside.
First photo shows it just after varnishing second image two years later.
View attachment 95547

View attachment 95546

Big thanks to forum member Freddy0309 for the updated photo. Seahorse lives outsideAldi at Clacton on Sea.

How and where can this solution be purchased please?

 

[chunkolini]

Just look on ebay, dead cheap and no questions asked. Also safe to use
The chemistry is simple.
NH4Cl, as it evaporates is gives off ammonia Nh3, so a bit of a smell but nothing much and leaves behind weak HCl hydrochloric acid which promotes the rust. I wear gloves as it stings on small cuts.
Hpw did it end up there?
I made one similar and their architect spotted it online and they asked for another.
There was almost an order for another five but I would not drop the price for multiples. Making one is nice two not bad but five of them..............

 

[Kent]

Just look on ebay, dead cheap and no questions asked. Also safe to use
The chemistry is simple.
NH4Cl, as it evaporates is gives off ammonia Nh3, so a bit of a smell but nothing much and leaves behind weak HCl hydrochloric acid which promotes the rust. I wear gloves as it stings on small cuts.
Hpw did it end up there?
I made one similar and their architect spotted it online and they asked for another.
There was almost an order for another five but I would not drop the price for multiples. Making one is nice two not bad but five of them..............

Might be boring but batching each stage massively cuts production times. You cannot credit how much more profitable each hour is when your dividing out set up times etc. Plus getting into a groove on the doing.

 

[chunkolini]

That is how I work on larger projects; but with this sort of thing every single component is unique. similar but each has to fit just so.
I make a set of frame components, I cut out and bend umpteen of the skin elements etc etc. and work in set stages.
Getting into that 'groove' is such a nice state, leave the music on repeat, crank up the volume and lose sight of the world.
Hard work but it is a nice place to be. Then some smart Alec will say 'only three days work' and get a clip round the ear. I think the seahorse is about five full days work, but they are quite 'big' days.

 

[Kent]

That is how I work on larger projects; but with this sort of thing every single component is unique. similar but each has to fit just so.
I make a set of frame components, I cut out and bend umpteen of the skin elements etc etc. and work in set stages.
Getting into that 'groove' is such a nice state, leave the music on repeat, crank up the volume and lose sight of the world.
Hard work but it is a nice place to be. Then some smart Alec will say 'only three days work' and get a clip round the ear. I think the seahorse is about five full days work, but they are quite 'big' days.

Yes. I get the fact that it's all done by tweaking but it really could be done though there is extra time and costs In keeping jigs and templates of course. If you think of it like an original painting and then limited addition prints perhaps? Hey it might not be your thing though