I have heard one of the best ways to finish your work is to dip it in used motor oil while at black heat, and then buff it in. I have also read that you can rub in a couple coats of beeswax at about the same temperature. What do you all do for a simple black patina type finish.

thanks a lot.

Depends on what and who it's for, motor oil even burned on can stain so I usually use parafin wax or paint, clear or colored, Krylon is durable stuff.

Frosty the Lucky.

Indoors,wax.Outdoors,Extend by 3M I think.
We used to use Extend as a rust killer for marine use but they now sell it at Lowe`s.It goes on white but dries to a nice satin black.It also makes a good first step if you are planning on painting rusted steel.

Johnson's old fashioned floor wax or Minwax put on warm steel with a cotton rag. Caution. Don't let the rag catch on fire. Work in a area with doors and windows open or work outside. For interior ironwork.

http://www.turleyforge.com

thanks, I will definitely try the wax. I read about the motor oil finish in Charles McRaven's book but that hasn't worked out very well for me yet.

i like rustoleum crystal clear ...quick and retetively cheap and looks good .. i also use a tumbler on a lot of stuff...

The only thing I use the motor oil on is axe heads, they come out of the quench hot and buff them up with wool or cotton, then grind an edge on them. Look pretty decent that way... ;-)

I use linseed oil and beeswax, and or johnson's paste wax on traditional stuff for inside.

Bacon grease to "season" food handling items.

Black satin rustoleum on most everything else...

Need to look into getting set up to do powder coating...

Christian
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Freetime is that like disposable income???