Outdoors, Iron finish

[peter]

Hello All,

I recently completed a door knocker as a gift for friends that live on the coast of Maine Other pieces that I have sent to the coast have developed rust on their sharp edges after a short period in the elements. I used the standard bees wax and linseed oil. I need a better coating soulution but I want to maintain the look of the forged Iron as opposed to the flat black spray paint solution. One looses considerable detail in a piece when we go with the paint. Thoughts?

Rgds,
Peter

[ThomasPowers]

Forge it out of a good grade of stainless and passivate the surface before mounting.

[oakwoodforge]

For a clear wet look finish on forged iron work exposed to salt air / bad weather - I Highly recommend POR -15 's GLISTEN PC its awesome stuff. Kind of a pain because it takes a few days to cure but it wont get milky or yellow and it'll last and last and last and last ...

Check it out here : Glisten PC


Hope this helps


Jens

[peter]

Jens,

In regard the 2 part coating, glisten PC, great idea. What do they like for surface prep; white metal or can this product go over an existing finish such as the wax oil combo ?

Thanks,
Peter

[HWooldridge]

I sandblast and "blue" the piece in commercial cold bluing solution (basically yielding a dark phosphate color) then clear coat with satin urethane. The sandblast is necessary or little pieces of scale pop off with temperature changes and start the rusting process.

Nothing lasts forever on mild steel in the elements but this combination will last for some years.