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Rusted Metal Used in Home Interior?

December 31, 2008

I'm interested in creating a false-eave inside a room in my house (a model train room) and wondered if anyone had any info about if rusting metal with Muriatic Acid [affil link] and then installing it indoors would be safe in terms of off-gassing or any other health reasons. Has anyone done this...seems like a restaurant/retail would have done this before.

Jay Wheatley
- Seattle, Washington, USA

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January 3, 2009

If you're referring to issues once the metal is rusted, I don't see any. A rusty piece of iron/steel in your house (assuming you don't chew on it) isn't a problem.

Just make sure you're careful during the "rusting" process by wearing gloves/eye protection/etc. and working in an area with sufficient ventilation. If you want to work without the muriatic acid, try making a solution of vinegar and salt and spraying/soaking the metal and leaving it exposed to the atmosphere. It won't take much. Just make sure to remove any oils or dirt that will keep the solution off the metal. Or leave them on...it'll give a natural look.

Christian Restifo
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania