Rust, greater in water or air


  #1  
Old 04-02-17, 01:34 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
Rust, greater in water or air

My whole life has been the elimination of rust, now I'm looking for the fastest way to get it.

Just welded up a "VW" sign and want to get it into a rusty patina look.

Do I just set it outside or tie a rope on it and drop it in the creek??
 
  #2  
Old 04-02-17, 01:49 PM
V
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North East Kingdom of Vermont
Posts: 2,195
Upvotes: 0
Received 3 Upvotes on 3 Posts
I think you wash it with soap to remove any grease and then periodically coat it with vinegar ?
 
  #3  
Old 04-02-17, 02:02 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,928
Received 3,947 Upvotes on 3,540 Posts
In order for it to rust faster in water you would need to replace the oxygen that is getting depleted during the rusting process. That means it would rust faster in the open air and being kept wet.
 
  #4  
Old 04-02-17, 02:17 PM
Gunguy45's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 19,281
Received 6 Upvotes on 6 Posts
I agree, in the air with frequent wetting will probably do the best.
 
  #5  
Old 04-02-17, 10:43 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
in the air with frequent wetting
Maybe I'll bury it in the pile of wet wood chips in the backyard for a couple of weeks and see what that does??
 
  #6  
Old 04-02-17, 11:01 PM
ray2047's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 29,711
Upvotes: 0
Received 15 Upvotes on 13 Posts
Basicly salt, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. How to Make Metal Rust in Less than 10 Minutes | MountainModernLife
 
  #7  
Old 04-02-17, 11:03 PM
Gunguy45's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 19,281
Received 6 Upvotes on 6 Posts
All depends on what it's made from I guess, but most regular steel will flash rust overnight. If you want that good old junk car sitting in a field for 10 years look....well, leave it in a field for 10 years...lol.

Here's another couple of methods...3 Ways to Make Metal Rust - wikiHow
 
  #8  
Old 04-03-17, 05:45 AM
H
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 2,309
Received 296 Upvotes on 254 Posts
Originally Posted by Marq1
Do I just set it outside or tie a rope on it and drop it in the creek??
Depends on the creek.
In the Pennsylvania coal regions, auto shops would strip the rust off exhaust headers
by soaking them in the creek overnight (per Dept. Enviro. Protection friend who works on water quality issues).
Acid mine drainage in Pa & West Virginia can drop the water's pH to 3.5 (or lower)
that's in the range of acidity normally found in industrial acids.
 

Last edited by Hal_S; 04-03-17 at 06:20 AM.
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: