Finishes for outdoor and indoor steel sculpture?

"Karl Sussman" escribió en el mensaje news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com... | I would like to read about different patinas that can be applied to | both indoor and outdoor steel sculpture pieces. Is there a good source | on the Internet or a good book to read on this subject? I have been | using auto paints first applying primer but the colors on the outdoor | pieces tend to fade after one-two years. Because I use multiple | colors, I have avoided powder painting. I have an oxyacetylene torch | so that I can heat the piece before applying the patina. I must admit | that I do not know how to get started on this area. Many thanks for | any info.

Try searching the internet for the 'Bower-Barff' process. It was extensively used in the 19th century on wrought and cast iron, and may work with steel low-carbon steel. It gives a very good and lasting protection.

JS

I sculpt using mild steel and apply patinas to both sculpture & steel furniture. I have not found anything on the Internet for steel - it is all for bronze & a little for brass & copper. However, many of these patinas work for steel -- one caveat is that they are all for indoors.

One or two patinas are applied cold but most are applied hot (400 F) so you need a propane torch -- oxyaceletyne is too hot and intense for patina work. I use the 'Red Dragon' made by

but there are lots of others.

I found it cheaper to buy chemicals and mix my own but here is one source:

The palette that works for steel is white to black, dark red to brown, some yellow -- no green or blue. You CAN get a full color palette with dies from but I don't consider dies to be patinas.

I have a lot of recipes but they are all hard copy - be happy to send you a set if you email me your snail mail address. The basics are easy to learn however getting exactly the color you want, where you want it, is an art.