Re: Rusting & Pitting Steel How To?

If you want nice even rusting, clean the steel with an alkaline cleaner (TSP, Tide, dishWASHER soap), very hot water, and a wire brush. Expose it to the fumes from Muriatic Acid (available in home stores and pool stores) just tent the item, put a bowl of the acid in the the bottom. Feed it some zinc every now and then to release the hydrogen. If you want pitting also, spinkle table salt on the the surfaces after the last washing. Usual comments that both the liquid acid and the fumes are NASTY. Let the fumes clear when you open the tent, do it outside, neutalize the acid with baking soda until it stops fizzing.

cheryl179 wrote:
We have an artist friend who is asking us if we have any info
regarding a quick way to achieve a "old looking" rusty pitted steel
look to HR Steel.

I vaguely recall information regarding the use of some or all of the
following, Salt or "ice melt", bleach, water, peroxide? other items?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

.

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