giant sprocket

[thumper_abn]

I was able to go through a picked over old welding/blacksmith shop over the weekend. It was badly picked over. The only really good things were 2 forges( neither was really serviceable without a lot of work) and a 400 lb anvil that was not for sale. I was able to poke around and got a big double handful of punches and files. I was able to get an old sprocket about 4 feet across and 2 stands to set it on. I'm wanting to make a table for the wife to sit outdoors by her firepit. Is there a way to show the original patina and preserve it at the same time? I'm really wanting to avoid painting it if i can. The best part is that I can go back if i want and she was only charging $0.05 /lb. My total investment is $40. She was only asking $26 but I felt quilty only giving her $0.05/lb.

Anyway any ideas on the base and hoe to preserve the old look?

[turbo7]

Have you looked at a wire brush finish? I know you want the original patina but this looks clean and old. Nice pick up btw, Also 3 legs look good on round things.

[tdaleh]

Just spay it with a clear coat over tne patina 

[Michael Cochran]

I agree with tdaleh, clear coat it. Get you a box of clear spray cans and give it a good coating. You might want to light sand it with a high grit sand paper in between layers to get it to finish smooth.

[JHCC]

First, make sure there's no loose rust.

[zombieresponder]

Get rid of the loose rust and then use clearcoat, as was suggested earlier.

[David Einhorn]

One way to remove the loose rust is to wipe it with a 3M pad.  Then when you spray it with clearcoat you will have a nice patina finish.

 

Edited September 28, 2015 by David Einhorn

[thumper_abn]

It has a bit of loose rust but the weather has been crappy and the shop is full. I'll scrape the big stuff off, then hit it with a scrub pad. I think clear coat is the best idea. I'm still not sure on the legs. I'll need to wife to make her wishes known first. 

Thanks for all the replies. 

I had a thought on the legs. There was some i-beam sections and there was a 20 stick of 2" solid round stock. Any thoughts on the leg material or design? The wife just wants it to be "regular table height". I'm not tied into any particular material just yet. I'll listen to most any idea. Start spit balling. If it was your project, what would you do?

[ThomasPowers]

Core drill a hole out by the firepit and set in a piece of pipe---closed off at the base and drop in a large piece of roundstock with the end tenoned to fit the hub (which may need bushing depending on size)  stick a bearing on the tenon first and make a revolving table!

[thumper_abn]

I was wanting to make a lazy susan in the center. The hole is abt 9 inches. 

Making the revolving table is a neat idea but my be outside my abilities. I was trying to come up with a good material to make it a tripod but keep it consistent with the gear theme. Still working in it, im also still listening to ideas.