Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Rust and Patina How To

 rusty and patina......anything!!!
  Instructions below.
instructions:
(these look long, but it is really easy....
just long to write)

Needed:
vinegar, white or apple cider
salt, just regular old salt out of my shaker.

For small items.

I fill a quart yogurt container half full of vinegar,
and sprinkle in some salt. (not measured, but guess 1 tsp.??)

dump your keys, clips, hinges, watch parts, locks...
any metal you want to 'age'.

I leave them over night, just 'cause it is convenient.
In morning, I take them out with my tongs (used only for this),
and put them on newspaper. 
(you can try a couple hours if in hurry)

I leave them there for the day...again just because it is easy.
(the newspaper does not do anything special, 
just keeps mess from getting on anything else. =)

Check to see how they are doing.
If not rusty or blue enough put them in again.
same process,and keep doing that till they are color or degree you want.
(you will see they continue to rust while even sitting out.)
The vinegar works to cut through the surface of the metal,
and the air oxidizes it.

PLEASE NOTE:
Different metals react differently.
Thus, some rust, some patina blue.
Brass is metal that turns blue.

When they are rusty enough, I rinse with water.
(to rinse I have another yogurt container with small holes poked in bottom.
I put them in there, run water over it and then shake water out).
Then dry with a rag..
If you will be handling them a lot I suggest spraying
 them with clear sealer, but I have not done that yet.
A little rust never hurt me....=)

I use the same vinegar for weeks....
just add more salt all the time.
You can also sprinkle items with salt while on newspaper.
gives them a sort of splotchy look.

NOTE: some metals take longer to break through surface.
Be patient. if you do it enough times, almost anything will rust.
*Galvanized metal does not rust but this will cause a dull surface.

I pick up any little metal things at garage sales, and rust it all!!
so fun to use on collages, place in bowl as conversation piece.
Use old rusty clips to hold art.....

Now, show me what you rusted and I will do a post on it.

Blessings
barbara jean

Hope Studios


32 comments:

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Thank you Barbara Jean for this awesome and easy tutorial!

Jenny @ Faith + Pearl said...

What a cool technique! I'm going to try this NOW! Will let you know how it turns out. Thanx!

xoxo
jenny

Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I'm excited to try it. I age new wood to look instantly old with apple cider vinegar and steel wool, so now I'll have another use for the great big bottle of vinegar. Fun!

Have a Happy 4th!
Pam

BECKY said...

This is awesome, Barbara! Thanks so much for sharing!! You're a sweetie!!

Have a wonderful 4th!!
Hugs,
Becky

Dorthe said...

Hi dear, thankyou for your recipi,love your blue keyes, and AM GOING TO TRY TODAY :-)
Hugs to you.
Dorthe

savvycityfarmer said...

I'm sooooo excited!!!!
and will be in touch

thanks for the tips

Bella@artclubblog said...

Those keys look fabulous, and so easy! Can't wait to try it out.

Allyson Duran said...

You could use the left over vinegar as a wood stain as well... Different metals will create different color stain, as you'd expect since their surfaces react differently as you can see. I'm making a stain now... I used items I am hoping to display after seeing this on pinterest :) TFS

Leaon Mary said...

I've wondered how to do this Barb and am so happy to find it tonight! Thanks for sharing your tips n tricks! Lea

LOVE to be HAPPY said...

Cool thank you so much
Happy day

Gorbes said...

Do you think the keys would still be functional?

The Rotter Homestead said...

Going to try this on jingle bells when I get hoe tonight. I sell plain colored jingle bells on Etsy, and think this might be a perfect rustic look from some of the extras. Thank you so much for sharing, I am really excited!
https://etsy.com/grandmaagnesattic.com

Lisa Gum said...

Do you happen to know the type of metal most keys are? I picked up a bunch at a key cutting place, but this technique didn't work on them at all after several days!

timlucier said...

Great tutorial! I am wondering-- is this safe for keys you will continue to use as keys? Or just for old keys used for decor, etc...

Barbara England said...

Dear Barbara Jean, is the photo of the keys one you took? If so, may I have permission to do a painting of it? I love the patina and the assortment. If you agree, I will send you a picture of my watercolor when finished. Thanks,
Barbara Anne

Unknown said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I tried it and did it twice, but mine aren't coming out with the pretty blue patina that yours show in your image. Would you know why? Thank you so much.
Wilma ~ozarksfinds
Feb. 2013

red.neck chic said...

I just dumped all kinds of metal in to some vinegar and salt!

Thank you!!!!
Robelyn

Unknown said...

Hi there,

You can also patina ANYTHING by spray painting a metallic color (gold, etc) and doing the same. I love to put the dissolved salt into a spray bottle with vinegar and then squirting whatever it happens to be and let the drips happen naturally. Its FUN and you never know what will happen ;)

Bright Circle said...

This is so cool. I put some copper sheet and several pennies (yes I know they're zinc inside) in to test, and some of the pennies are being EATEN AWAY by the solution!

Diana said...

Hi Barbara,
I'm going to try your technique. I usually use miracle grow & water. I keep a batch mixed up at all times and just throw the stuff in there. Yours are gorgeous. You have a new follower.

Diana said...

Hi Barbara,
I'm going to try your technique. I usually use miracle grow & water. I keep a batch mixed up at all times and just throw the stuff in there. Yours are gorgeous. You have a new follower.

Anonymous said...

oh how cool!!!! Thanks for sharing! I just found your blog and have bookmarked it. :D Marva

Anonymous said...

I love these blue and rusty keys. You can never have too much patina! Thanks for sharing your technique.

Gigi @ Old World Patina

Jil~Say It With Roses said...

Thank you for sharing this easy peasy way to get the look we all love!
♥ Jil

Unknown said...

These are great! Couple questions. ..
I have some old rusted horseshoes but when we welded and grinded them, some parts became a shiny metal look, do you think its ok to do this even though parts are already rusted? Also can you use distilled white vinegar to do this? Thanks!

Unknown said...

These are great! Couple questions. ..
I have some old rusted horseshoes but when we welded and grinded them, some parts became a shiny metal look, do you think its ok to do this even though parts are already rusted? Also can you use distilled white vinegar to do this? Thanks!

Wendi@H2OBungalow said...

This is awesome! I LOVE that I can patina metal like this! Thanks so much for sharing..pinned & going to my Facebook page:) Have wonderful day:)

T-Storm said...

Hi Barbara,
I just came across your tutorial and am wondering if you have any techniques you can share to patina larger items such as a brass headboard?? Thanks!

Barbara Jean said...

T-Storm
Same as other. Brass turns a lovely blue green with patina.
Barb

kre8tor69 said...

Also use a bath of hydrogen peroxide to up the oxygen. Each metal will patina different though

Taps said...

My hinges are painted black. Do I need to remove the black paint before soaking them in patina/rust mixture?

Barbara Jean said...

Taps,
regarding black metal hinges. I have no clue, nothing to lose so put them in the solution and see what happens. If they are highly enameled paint this solution will probably not work.
You would need something to cut through that factory finish first I would think. thanks