How to accelerate the rusting of steel?
This is a question we get asked frequently.
First and foremost, it's worth noting that ordinary steel will naturally weather to a golden-brown color within 9 to 12 months. Weathering steel weathers much faster, typically completing its weathering process within a month in the UK's wet climate. Weathered steel and ordinary steel appear almost identical.
Sometimes, our clients want a natural rust effect to appear on steel edges and woven steel fences as quickly as possible. For example, when designing a sophisticated display garden for a designer.
The image below shows us applying rust remover to the fencing panels used for the Birmingham Garden World show. They will take approximately two weeks to fully weather.
So, how exactly should we do it?
The main ingredients are four: water, hydrogen peroxide (also known as hydrochloric acid, available from Amazon), vinegar, and salt.
Mix according to the following proportions. The amount used can be adjusted according to the area to be covered.
- 1 liter of water
- 1 liter of hydrogen peroxide
- 100 ml white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Outdoors, brushes or sprayers can be used for application; larger areas will yield better results. Due to the woven texture of the fence, spraying is easier. Please wear goggles and protect your skin. Do not store in a sealed container for more than one day to prevent gas buildup.
You will need to apply the coating 2 to 3 times to achieve a fully weathered surface. Ideally, you should wait a day between applications so that you can see the full effect of each application.
This is a highly corrosive solution; you'll see it bubble almost immediately on the steel surface, and the liquid that flows out is rust-red. If you wish, you can increase the amount of water used to slow down the rusting process.
Be careful when using rust remover, as it can cause stains if it spills onto paved surfaces.
