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Spring Steel Coloring and Rust Prevention

We're working on designing a work of public kinetic art for a building here in San Francisco. The concept we're working on involves several hundred pieces of polished blue spring steel, 0.004" x 1.0" x 72.0"

We're trying to figure out two things: What kind of coating can we apply to the steel to keep it from rusting in a typical dry indoor environment. Secondly, is there any way to produce a coating on each side of the material that differs in color in a fast and easy way. We've sanded off the blue temper on one side and that produces a nice effect. However were concerned about rust on the sanded side.

We need to maintain the integrity of the material because it's basically being used as spring, so we can't do anything that involves a ton of heat. We also need this coating to be well adhered such that it doesn't chip over the millions of bending cycles these strips will see.

Ideas?

Andrew Murphy
- San Francisco
December 6, 2011