Fastest Way to Rust Steel?

jhiggins

jhiggins

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Messages
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Well golly. This isn't exactly a knifemaking question, but the info I hope to gather here could theoretically be used in knifemaking, so let me have a minute of your time.

If I made an item out of mild steel, what would be the fastest way to rust that item? Let's say its an ornamental lawn item, that needs to look old and rusted, well, actually BE rusted.

Anyone have any good techniques for fast fast FAST rusting of steel or iron?
 
I'm sure there's some better techniques, but I bet if you wiped it down with saltwater, you'd get some rust real quick. ;)
 
Bleach does work great. Just play around with a couple of scrap pieces first. It can pit a item if left to long. That has been my experience anyway more so if you soak a piece instead of spraying it or wiping it down.
 
jhiggins said:
Bleach, eh?
Click to expand...

Use a good brand like clorox. The cheaper stuff is watered down. Bleaching is a way some unscrupulous folks make money on fake antiques. Forge a little hawk head soak it in bleach, she looks old to me. :(
 
Pee in your quench bucket.... :D, Just kidding.... :D :D I have heard that some people just stick it in a bucket of manure!!! Smells but works great so I am told..... :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
If you put salt on it as mentioned before the salt will attract moisture and the moisture would rust it quicker. But, if I wanted to rust something very quickly I would put it in a controlled environment that is moist, warm, and with pure oxygen. Something like salting it down, putting a pan of water on a mild heat source, covering it with a trash bag and filling the bag with oxygen from the torch rig.

Just an idea.
 
Clorox in warm salt water aerated with Oxygen out in the sun in a plastic bag. don't blow yourself up now Jeff :( ;)
remember
the Chlorine in Clorox bleach put with Iron will make Ferric Chloride so keep your nose out of it..Chlorine is not all that good for you either :(
 
I've used equal parts bleach and vinegar (makes hydrochlorous acid) to disolve steel wool to make rust powder and it disolves most metals extremely fast- you can see the solution
turning brown as soon as you put steel into it. But do it OUTSIDE! It gives off lots of chlorine or HCl gas. It seems to make a great etching agent too.
 
brush it down with muriatc acid, let set a few minute and hose it off, then just walk off and leave it, rust will come. ;)

Bill
 
Take a trip to Padre Island TX, that will corrode anything due to constant high temps,salt,humidity.
 
Maybe you should try some of IG's relish on it. Just don't leave it too long, it might disolve.
 
Meratic Acid will rust steel in several minutes.I trap and when I get new traps they come with a coating of oil on them.I dip it in Meratic acid and they are rusted in about 5 minutes.Brick layers use to to clean block off,it will work but watch your eyes =)
 
Pure apple cider vinegar will rust it in one day (warm humid weather) and add a beautiful reddish tint!
 
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