Preserving a rusty finish

[Dan Crabtree]

So I have a customer who ordered a plasma cut out that was to become a sign for his buisness. The man owns a bison ranch and the cut out is of 2 bison in a field grazing and an indian riding by on horseback. He wants a rusty finish on it so it looks rustic. I have the cut out ready for the rusting process. I was planning on having it sandblasted and then rusting it with a muratic acid/distilled water mixture and spraying with hydrogen peroxide.

My question is once I start this rusting what is the most effective way to seal and prevent it from rusting any further. I was thinking either a matte finish clear coat, I also heard wax is a good way to preserve rust. Maybe I should use a beeswax/oil mixture heated and apply although this would need to be redone once a year or so. Whats your opinion?

[tetnum]

when youre done with the process base the chemicals

to finish eith let it be bees wax

or grt it to about 450 ish range in a oven and drop it into motor oil it will seal it for more than a year

[Dan Crabtree]

Should I use some sort of baking soda solution to neutralize it? is that what you mean by basing the chemicals?

[civilwarblacksmith]

With using Muratic acid, you should be able to neutralize with Windex or anything with ammonia.

[HWooldridge]

Vinegar and bleach works fine and is safer than muriatic. It also helps if the metal is hot to the touch - maybe 120 to 150 degrees. Kill the bite with some baking soda mixed with water and applied with a hand powered, pump-up sprayer.

The rust will act as a great protectant so you don't have to apply anything if you don't want to. Anything you add will darken the finish so the customer might like it a little on the red side.

[civilwarblacksmith]

It doesn't hurt to very lightly sand and add a light coat of linseed oil either.

[Dan Crabtree]

Well my customer decided that he wanted one of his "people" to finish it up. Thanks for all your help. I will get pictures up of the sign as soon as its installed.

[gpworks]

did you try king metals in Baltimore,MD they have a lot of neat patinas the work really well.i have used several they are nice..

[bruce wilcock]

disolve beeswax in turpintine untill it turns into a whitish paste then rub it on with a rag or brush.