Rust is the enemy of steel. It attacks the substance and means rusty parts have to be replaced. That is why corrosion is usually prevented, and non-rusting metals such as stainless steel or aluminium are used in many places. On the other hand, rust lends a special look that is quite desirable in some settings.
So that you do not have to wait for the natural rusting process, you can make steel rust deliberately. That is not only much faster than exposing the metal to the weather over a long period - it is also far more targeted: you can even make just part of a sheet rust quickly. We explain step by step which methods for letting steel rust come into question and how to proceed.
Why is the rusty look so popular?
Anyone can buy new. Recycling and reusing are fully in fashion - and so is the vintage look. Which is why people decorate with old-looking objects. In the garden especially, rusty garden tools or everyday objects are welcome: they give the impression of having stood in the fresh air for ages.
Even in new housing estates, you will find a completely rusted old plough in the front gardens. Old wheelbarrows and garden tools are also popular garden decorations. But because not everyone owns an old piece with genuine rust, many people try to make such objects rust artificially.
Indoors too, rusty hearts and other shapes are very popular - combined with flowers, for example: a fresh flower in an old, rusty planter.
Which steel is suitable for rapid rusting?
The rustproof stainless steel sheet or aluminium mentioned at the outset is very difficult to make rust - and in the case of aluminium, you would not obtain a typically rusty texture anyway.
Best suited is steel sheet with a chromium content below 10.5%. Completely unalloyed steel is optimal. All alloys with high proportions of chromium, nickel or manganese make it harder to get metal to rust. Even using the agents we describe below, such as vinegar or citric acid, alloyed steel will never rust as beautifully as simple unalloyed steel.
Making artificial patina in 4 steps: rusting with hydrochloric acid
The best-known method of making steel rust is using hydrochloric acid - even though hydrochloric acid is famously a very good rust remover. Sounds crazy, but it is true: de-rusting with hydrochloric acid accelerates re-corrosion, so metal de-rusted with hydrochloric acid subsequently rusts much faster.
You can exploit this property if you want to rust with hydrochloric acid. A little preparation is needed first: a hydrochloric acid-copper solution works even better than pure hydrochloric acid, and you can easily make it yourself within a week. Simply place a piece of copper in 25% hydrochloric acid and remove the remnants from the solution after 7 days. Caution: naturally, never reach into the acid with your fingers.
The actual application of the hydrochloric acid-copper solution then takes place, as required, in four simple steps.
Step 1: Dilute the solution
For application, the concentrated hydrochloric acid-copper solution must first be diluted. In practice, 50-60 millilitres of the solution per 4 litres of water has proven effective.
Step 2: Clean the workpiece
For an even result when rusting iron, the workpiece must be well prepared - only then is it guaranteed that the workpiece will rust everywhere and, above all, evenly. Use water and soap for this. That prevents the hydrochloric acid solution from reacting with dirt, which would produce an uneven result because the metal would rust faster or slower in places.
Step 3: Apply the solution
Here it is important to work evenly. A spray bottle is possible in principle, but it will also be decomposed very quickly by the diluted acid. It is more sustainable to use a brush and wet the iron piece generously and evenly. The result of the artificial rusting is clearly visible after a good hour.
Step 4: Preserve
If you do not intervene now, the rust will eat through the entire workpiece - ultimately it will rust through completely. As soon as the desired degree of rusting is reached, the workpiece must be preserved. Linseed oil is suitable, or OWATROL oil, which is even more effective. The oil treatment for preservation should be repeated regularly - especially if you want to place the now-rusty iron piece outdoors.
Vinegar: alternative methods for rusting iron
If you prefer not to work with an aggressive acid, you can use vinegar. Its advantages are the low price and the fact that it can be applied evenly with a spray bottle.
A mixture of salt and peroxide is also a good household remedy for making metals rust quickly. Citric acid likewise has an effect that makes iron and steel rust artificially. With all the methods we have mentioned, occupational safety must be observed: acid-resistant gloves and safety goggles are appropriate in every case.
Order sheets for rusting online
If you do not want to rust an everyday object such as an old flat iron or a scale weight, you first have to obtain a sheet for it. The easiest way is to order it from us online to your own dimensions. We have specialised in cutting sheet metal and can also cut out complicated shapes.
Our sales colleagues are available on the phone for free, non-binding advice. They will also inform you about the forming options we can offer. All that remains for you to do is to let the steel rust yourself.
We always work quickly and effectively: our individually manufactured products leave our central production site near Magdeburg within 48 hours. You can use this time to obtain the agents for artificial rusting. If you want to make a hydrochloric acid-copper solution, you need a week's lead time for that anyway. If you order today, you can create the rusty look in a week - and we will gladly supply the made-to-measure sheets for it.
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