Bit of a weird one. I'm getting back into my art practice and looking to do several pieces using rust as the main medium. Essentially: take an image, break it down into black and white (by that I mean pure black and white similar to some comics etc), create a template of the picture cutting out either the black or the white area, fix template over sheet of untreated steel, coat the metal that shows through the template in phos acid, leave outside for a bit (!), remove template and the finished product "should" be a picture created out of the contrast between the rust and normal metal.

 

However, once it's done I'd need someway to "fix" the rust (and indeed the non-rusted parts) so a) it doesn't fall off and b) doesn't spread into the non-rusted metal parts.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on what, if anything, I could use??

 

Told you it was a weird one! :D ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Leigh.

Bit of a weird one. I'm getting back into my art practice and looking to do several pieces using rust as the main medium. Essentially: take an image, break it down into black and white (by that I mean pure black and white similar to some comics etc), create a template of the picture cutting out either the black or the white area, fix template over sheet of untreated steel, coat the metal that shows through the template in phos acid, leave outside for a bit (!), remove template and the finished product "should" be a picture created out of the contrast between the rust and normal metal.

 

However, once it's done I'd need someway to "fix" the rust (and indeed the non-rusted parts) so a) it doesn't fall off and b) doesn't spread into the non-rusted metal parts.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on what, if anything, I could use??

 

Told you it was a weird one! :D ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Leigh.

 

All artist are weird!!!!:x:

 

First thought is to try 2K clear lacquer.

rust needs oxygen and moisture to react so stop the oxygen and/or moisture getting to it and jobs a goodun ;)

A light varnish or laquer.HTH

All artist are weird!!!!:x:

 

First thought is to try 2K clear lacquer.

 

Yeah but the flange we get is unbelievable.....lol :tongue:

Ahhh, but you'd be lost without us...after all, would you rather drive a shapely Z or a box on wheels...? ;)

 

Cheers folks. I'd been toying with going down the laquer route however I was concerned that the oxidization process once started would continue underneath the protective layer and literally eat the piece away from the inside. However, after a few interesting replies on the Z Club it appears that if the metal is sealed in a low-humidity environment the chances of it continuing are minimal. TBH, a small increase in rust over the years is not a problem....the thought that the piece could continue to evolve without any intervention is, in some ways, quite appealing.

 

after a few interesting replies on the Z Club

 

and so there should be as some of them have spent twice as long trying to deal with the bloody tin worm (since early 70 when the cars first arrived):shock: