Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Texture of steel

I want to get a pitted texture of steel. What is the best chemical, muriatic acid [affil links] ? Is it just about submersion time, the longer the steel sits in the chemical, the more texture or pitting will result?

Sarah Lavin
- Seattle, Washington, USA
2006

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of pitted patterns on steel. They can be produced by several methods: EDM (electric discharge machining), blasting or chemical etching (either on a bare surface or one that has been masked with a specific pattern). Maybe if you told us more about your project or specifications. Is it a decorative or cosmetic finish? Is it functional? What type of steel, what size and weight, is it a movable object, a statue? The more input in the question, the best suited answer.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006

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2007

I would like a textured organic finish, randomly pitted on mild steel for a decorative sculpture. I have many experiments going on in my shop (all with steel):
1)immersed in muriatic acid, 2) brushed with muriatic acid and exposed to the air,3) samples with salt and muriatic 4) ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon]?(from radio shack) the samples have been going on for a week, and still I see no effects. are there anymore ready available chemical that will produce such an effect? Will the chemicals eventually eat into the metal much like one sees on an old piece of farm equipment?

Sarah Lavin
- Seattle, Washington