Creating Realistic Rust Patina

Rust Patina. I have done a lot of research and experimentation with rust patina’s. There are a few products out there. That being said there is only one place I will buy products from when it comes to trying to create a realistic rust effect, I use products from Sculpt Nouveau Ron Young at Sculpt Nouveau is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful people when it comes to creating patina. I have called him and talked to him on the phone on a few occasions and he was very helpful in answering my questions.

The image below is a huge foam hook and chain I bought at Target last Halloween and applied patina from Sculpt Nouveau. It was a an unpleasant brown color when I bought it. A quick coat of Iron B, and then a spray of Tiffany Green patina and then blot on of Tan patina and the magic happens.

Initially the price seems a bit scary but a little goes a long way, and it’s not like I was painting my living room with it. I still have the same patina’s from my original buy and am on my second can of Iron Coating

I have used them on many occasions and now the process down. Initially I was a bit confused and frustrated with it. The deal is that you are using a paint that is a metal coating and the patinas have chemicals and acids in them that oxidize the metal in the paint. A key point is that you want to apply the patina when the last coat of metal coating is damp, this leaves some moisture for the oxidation to do its work. At some point you need to stop the reaction and seal the patina and coating using a topcoat. There is a product out there called Permalac that seals the coating really well.

Permalac lacquer is formulated to protect metal and other surfaces from weather and outdoor related abuse. This clearcoat protects from heat, cold, wind-borne sand, and salt spray. Permalac has UV and corrosive inhibitors that will not breakdown for years. Once cured, Permalac almost disappears. It does not alter the appearance, texture, or patina of the finish in any way.

Well I sometimes don’t read all the documentation and in the Sculpt Nouveau documentation it says you have to make sure that there is no moisture in the underlying layers 1st. When I would apply the Permalac I would get white blooms in the finish. It would drive me mad. Learn to read Grim. The reason you have to seal the finish is because if you don’t it will keep rusting if you don’t.

These two images are the before and after pictures of the patina doing its thing, probably a 20-30 minute duration. This is a foam skull, with faux barbed wire and a few nails rammed into it.

Here is a close up of my Grave Diggers massive shovel.

Here are some demos at Youtube show how to work with the Sculpt Nouveau Patina’s

http://www.youtube.com/sculptnouveau

Brick in the Yard has a few videos on Youtube showing how to use using the Sculpt Nouveau products in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T52OZZXZVYo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-gFkl1kdo

Here is a earlier post I made about my experiences with rust patina http://www.grimvisions.com/props/rust-patina

Tagged as: Painting, Patina, Products, Rust

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Kimily September 12, 2009 at 8:47 pm

I have used the brand that Michaels sells and its is $$$$, but it looks awesome. I believe the brand you spoke of is much much better.

The foam hook – Did you carve the hook itself?

Grim September 12, 2009 at 8:53 pm: I purchased the hook at Target last Halloween, and it was juts a lame brown color pretending to be rust.

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MarZel September 7, 2009 at 8:07 pm