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-----:Make Steel into Oil Rubbed Bronze?
Quickstart:
We have about 2 dozen discussion threads about oil rubbed bronze, so if your interest is in other than doing an oil rubbed bronze finish on steel parts, you'll probably be happier searching the site for "oil rubbed bronze" plus other keywords.
Oil rubbed bronze on steel would be done by first copper plating it, then chemically darkening the copper, then relieving the high spots to lighten them if desired, then clear coating.
Sometimes though "oil rubbed bronze" is just a warm brownish paint color.
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Q. "Oil-rubbed" steel... I understand this finish is not actually oil rubbed but rather a chemical process which produces a sealing oxidized layer over the steel, which then darkens over time.
I want to use this finish on a new guardrail / handrail system for a large University building, and need to build a specification about the process, and fabricators available.
Any information on the process, the chemicals, and potential fabricators and/ or finishers would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
David Alt- Portland, Oregon, USA
2002
A. Hi David,
There may well be an 'oil rubbed steel' finish which I personally am not familiar with, but on the occasions when I've heard this term it's been an abbreviated form of "oil rubbed bronze finish on steel". It is obtained by copper plating the steel, chemically blackening the copper, and (if desired) artistically relieving the high points and wear surfaces.
Most of the time, after the blackening (and possible relieving) the finish is clear coated to keep it as is. You can, however, leave it to lighten from wear on the high spots, and darken from lack thereof on the low spots, which is called "a living finish". Such living finishes are best for solid materials like solid copper though. I don't think I'd recommend it on copper plated steel both because plating is thin and could wear through, and because steel is subject to rust and corrosion, so you'd be better off with the clear coat protecting against corrosion.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. Hi, I am trying to match the look of the store-bought rubbed bronze finished door hardware to the steel hardware I am fabricating. I have the EPI ultra black kit for the black oxide needs of my auto restoration projects. Is there something useful in the kit to aid in the faux bronze finish I want for my steel hardware? Thanks. Steve
Steve Dauria
hobbyist and designer - Sierra Madre, Calif
June 27, 2008
A. Hi, Steve. Threads 34482 and
17968 offer the best details of exactly what oil rubbed bronze is and how it's done. Unless you can start by having the door hardware electroplated with copper, I don't think a real oil rubbed bronze finish will be practical. There are paints that simulate it, and if you pick a good one and have artistic skills, it may be good enough.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have built a frame for a small table out of steel, and want to make it look similar to oil rubbed bronze (black/brownish) to match the hardware in the room, preferably without just painting it. The steel has been cut, welded, groud, and sanded, but I have no idea how to darken the shiny steel to achieve the desired color. Any ideas?
Thanks!!!!
- Seattle, Washington, USA
December 21, 2011
by Hughes & Rowe
on Amazon or eBay
or AbeBooks
(affil link)
A. What you may be looking for is called a patina. Commercial mixes are available in small quantities. sculptnouveau.com is a great source of products that will help you get the color you need.
- Lake in the Hils, Illnois, USA
A. You can oil it very, very slightly and the heat it slowly to 200-400 °C. Any edible oil or fat can be used but linseed oil
⇦ on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil link]
is the best. Repeat if needed. Your object can be immersion coppered too and then you can use same process as described previously. Old brown patina for iron can be used too (brown for firearms - 50 gm iron-III-chloride
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
/1 lit water). After patination you can use greenish dyed clearcoat). Hope it helps and good luck!
- Zagreb, Croatia
Q. I have seen companies in the interior handrail Business, create oil rubbed bronze finish on steel.
It's inconsistent in color and is almost a rainbow effect. My guess is that the heating of the metal causes the rainbow. I am told that they heat the part up with a torch, then apply a dark black wax to the piece.
I have tried carnuba wax, turpentine, and japan dryer but do not get any color
Does anyone know what it is? ⇦ Answer?
- Hackettstown, New Jersey
September 11, 2013
A. Hi Rich
That railing looks great but I don't think the finish is quite what others are calling oil rubbed bronze because ORB never has a rainbow effect as far as I know. The iridescence is indeed an interference effect caused by oil in the same way that a drop of oil in a puddle causes a rainbow sheen.
Just as a guess my thought is that this railing was copper plated or at least copper patinated before the treatments you've tried.
You might make faster progress on the process you are seeking by searching the site for "heat coloration" rather than oil rubbed bronze.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
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