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View Full Version : mild steel black patina

fosterkitten
08-29-2006, 07:16 PM
Hi ... i am wanting to patina mild steel . In the past i used gun blue to acheive an aged , blackened look , i want this look again only this time i have such an amount to patina 4 x 1200 x2400 flat sheet that i can't afford to use gun blue . any ideas ?
anatomist1
08-29-2006, 10:17 PM
How did you afford the steel? In the US, enough bluing to patina that would only cost a few dollars. Even if you were wasteful with it, I don't see it costing more than $20 US. You can get an entire quart of presto black from Sculpt Nouveau for $32, which is basically just gun blue: http://www.sculptnouveau.com/traditional.html.

The only alternative I know of is dye, which costs about the same. Paint might be slightly cheaper.
fosterkitten
08-30-2006, 09:52 AM
ah yeah , thats interesting , i am in new zealand, i already use a product from the company you sent me in the link, but it only comes in small bottles here ( that I have found ) . To patina one sheet alone it would cost me at least $ 100 , or more .... I shall get in touch with them , thanks
fosterkitten
08-30-2006, 09:59 AM
ah yeah , thats interesting , i am in new zealand, i already use a product from the company you sent me in the link, but it only comes in small bottles here ( that I have found ) . To patina one sheet alone it would cost me at least $ 100 , or more .... I shall get in touch with them , thanks
anatomist1
08-30-2006, 03:45 PM
That surprises me. I've never tried to do big sheets, but it seems to me like patina goes a long way. Is there a chance that you are applying it incorrectly? If it was just a flat sheet, I would try laying it flat and applying it with a window washer's squeegee.

Another thing I thought of that I have heard about but never tried is used motor-oil. I'm not sure how well it would stick or dry up, but I have heard of people using it to attain a dark finish on metal.
nep75
09-01-2006, 07:00 PM
The motor oil patina is usually done hot. You heat the piece up then dunk it in the oil. Does leave a nice patina, but not sure how to get that large of a piece to dunk....

I concure, check with Sculpt Nouveau, they can get you gallon sizes. Not sure how much shipping with be though. :)
~ N