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Rust effect on top of bicycle clearcoat?

August 25, 2009

Dear experts --

I am about to receive this bicycle in the mail:


I believe that it's made of chromium-molybdenum steel.

I would like to sandblast (or walnut shell media ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] blast, or whatever my local sandblasting expert recommends) off the paint job, then clear coat it, revealing the raw steel underneath. It's my understanding that the raw steel will turn a matte gunmetal gray color. However, I want a brownish, rusty finish, like the structural steel beams in this photo:


Can you recommend a way for me to paint or apply such a finish ON TOP of my new clear coat application, so that the bike is protected from actual rust while displaying the look I desire?

I'm a hobbyist, so the simpler the process, the better. Please describe all products specifically for the sake of my ignorance.

Thanks for your time!
AF

Akiva Freidlin
Hobbyist - Brooklyn, NY, USA

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August 26, 2009

Another suggestion that I've been told to consider:

Strip the paint off the bike, then use a gun bluing or browning product on the steel, then clear coat.

Thoughts?
Thanks

Akiva Freidlin
- Brooklyn, NY, USA

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Sandblasting will make the bike have a matte finish.
If you want it to look rusty, do one or two coats of clearcoat base after you sandblast it.
You can BUY iron oxide from pottery supply stores in very fine powder, mix it with your clearcoat and apply.
If you want it darker and you want texture, throw handfulls of it while the clearcoat is still wet.

You want it to look rusty, use rust.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Boone, North Carolina
September 6, 2009