Rusting Bare Metal

[klunknoob]

I am considering taking a frame down to bare metal and then adding a rusted appearance to it. I found the below video which seems pretty straightforward, but was wondering if there was a better method and if this was a good idea to do on an old steel frame. I assume if it's just surface rust and you put some sort of sealer on it afterwords that it would be okay.

Youtube - How to rust metal quickly

Thanks!

 

[AndyA]

Dear Mr. Klunknoob:
All depends on the look that you're striving for. Boiled linseed oil applied on the rust might do the trick. This is a common technique with bikes that have rusted naturally. But since you're considering taking it down to bare metal, you could instead paint it with a rust-colored paint, which is available in various finishes -- gloss, satin, and flat. Paint might be a more permanent solution. If you want a flat finish with some texture, you could try brushing on something like Rust-oleum Rusty Metal Primer in lieu of spray paint. Try some test panels, see what looks good, and have fun!

 

[klunknoob]

Dear Mr. Klunknoob:
All depends on the look that you're striving for. Boiled linseed oil applied on the rust might do the trick. This is a common technique with bikes that have rusted naturally. But since you're considering taking it down to bare metal, you could instead paint it with a rust-colored paint, which is available in various finishes -- gloss, satin, and flat. Paint might be a more permanent solution. If you want a flat finish with some texture, you could try brushing on something like Rust-oleum Rusty Metal Primer in lieu of spray paint. Try some test panels, see what looks good, and have fun!

"Mr. Klunknoob", Hilarious!!
Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try a few of those before committing on the frame.

 

[HuffnPuff]

I rusted a frame using a hydrochloric acid solution, reasonably dilute. It only took overnight for it to look quite rusted.

Two coats of boiled linseed oil seemed to seal it up nicely. Can’t comment on the longevity of the linseed oil because I sold it on after about 6 months.

 

[sandman]

 

[Captain Awesome]

Same method we used on my buddies tins for his Harley. Taped out flames and rusted

 

[sandman]

I read somewhere on a Steam Punk forum where they took steel wool and let it rust in a spray bottle of hydro-peroxide then lightly sprayed that on a newly painted surface that was not fully dried ?

 

[klunknoob]

I read somewhere on a Steam Punk forum where they took steel wool and let it rust in a spray bottle of hydro-peroxide then lightly sprayed that on a newly painted surface that was not fully dried ?

I've seen that on a Youtube vid, not sure if it was the one I linked or not. The result looked pretty good.

 

[Phil Fink]

Maybe try some Birchwood Casey Plum Brown Finish,
Advertised as "Ideal for Restoring Metal Antiques".
Might be expensive though.

 

[sandman]

That's a tong tangle so I had to look it up . It's has high ratings ?

 

[Steve Baltera]

I used a mixture of peroxide vinegar and salt. Then I sealed it with Everbrite.You wipe it on and it wont crack or peel and you can touch it up any time.Its been 3/4 of a year so far so good.Hope this helps

 

[klunknoob]

I used a mixture of peroxide vinegar and salt. Then I sealed it with Everbrite.You wipe it on and it wont crack or peel and you can touch it up any time.Its been 3/4 of a year so far so good.Hope this helps

Do you happen to have a picture of the result?

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Steve Baltera]

will take a pix tommorow and send .If you want call me 609-513-1826

 

[klunknoob]

As it turns out, I love the color after just taking the paint off! Thanks anyway for the suggestions!

 

[karl]

Plain linseed oil works great on everything, it brings out the shine in old paint and adds a nice gloss (and protection from further rusting) to rust. Also wood!

 

[karl]

As a coating i meant..

 

[klunknoob]

As a coating i meant..

"Plain" as opposed to boiled? /no sarcasm

 

[nosferatu1381]

Storing it with calcium hypochlorite but I would cork the tubing first. You can always pour a phosphoric acid though the tubing later. There is one made for prepping surfaces to paint. I can't think of anything else that rusts tools as fast as a humid shed with pool chemistry in it it. I have a garden cabinet I bet if I mixedd up some cal hypo in a solution in a bucket and put it in there in a sunny part of the yard that would be a fun take a daily photo experiment with a bare metal frame