Letter 24061

Aging Mild Steel? [New Zealand] 

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I am working on a project where our client wishes to use mild steel on the front of a counter, however they want it to appear aged, and possibly slightly rusty (ie. not new silver and shiny). What do I need to do to achieve this? What products do you recomment, that are available in New Zealand.

Christy Ormand
an architect - Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

There are many ways to acheive this look. To blacken either heat the metal to create a black oxide or apply a gunblue solution that can be purchased at a gun or sporting goods shop.For rust, mist it with water-the more water you apply the more rust, salt water greatly accelerates the rusting.Or apply an acid such as muriatic to the exposed steel to create rust. Murriatic can be bought at most hardware stores. To protect the finish apply an oil based laquer or paint on a solution of Linseed Oil [link is to product info at Rockler], turpentine and beeswax to warmed metal for a darker finish. If the metal rusts too much sand it lightly, a thin layer of rust will protect the metal underneath. Have fun!

Fia Cooper
- Vancouver, B.C., Canada

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