What Finish to put on My Vine Arbour?

What Finish Is Suitable for my Blacksmith Forged Vine Arbour?

I want to protect the steel from rusting but be able to see the texture of the vines I made underneath. What are your suggestions?

Hi
Finishes in blacksmithing are always a question. Something like this I would use an automotive paint with an epoxy primer coat. The hard acrylic top coat protects for several years (about 7 in a low salt environment). The metal must be clean sandblasted and a good deal of care has to be used in applying the paint.

The nice thing with this paint (see an automotive supply store for it) is that it comes in almost any color and it is quite durable.

Your next option is to have all the pieces hot dipped galvanized. Then paint over top. The problem with this is that the galvanizing fills in the texture that you have worked so hard to create. It will provide a good long lifespan before rust develops, but is better suited for large scale curves and shaping. Not so much for texturing on bars.

Another product that smiths in the states have had good luck with is called Permalaq (just google it for more info) It is a clear laquer that is sparyed on leaving the natural steel tone and is quite durable. Talk to the manufacturer for details of use, as I have not used it yet.

There is a longer article on the main website about finishes that may be worth reading.
Click on Blacksmithing Articles to see a full list of articles on the site.

Hope this helps
David
Artist Blacksmith

Blacksmith Spring Fuller Questions

Spring Fuller Suggestions for Blacksmithing

Mr. Robertson,
I would like to fabricate a hardy spring fuller.

I have several leafsprings from an old truck that I can use for the spring portion. I had figured I would shape each end of the spring in a swage to fit a 3/4" diameter bar and then weld 3 or so inches of the bar in place at each end of the spring. I would then bend the spring so that the round bars come together and finish by welding a piece of square stockon the outside of the spring to fit my hardy hole.

I have two questions. First, is it acceptable to use mild steel for the 3/4"fullers provided I keep them cool during use?

Second, what sort of heat treatment do I need to do on the leaf springs where they were heated and bent?

Hi
A couple of things.
The leaf spring may be too heavy to get a good spring action. I usually use a coil spring that I straighten out. Then flatten out the midle section to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. This gives enough of a spring.When welding either the hardy stem or the "jaws" onto the spring steel, preheat the spring steel to at least 500 degrees F. I will usually take them up untill they just show a bit of color perhaps 1200 F. This seems to work pretty well for me.

The mild steel will work fine for the jaws, at least for quite a while. Expect some wear though.

Once the spring is forged flat and bent to shape, Take an even dull orange heat on it and just let it air cool and it seems to work fine. The steel itself is springy will work just with normalizing. If you want to heat treat, temper to about 500 degrees F but this is not really required on this tool.

I have also made spring fullers using mild steel flat bar as the spring. 3/16 by 1.5 inches or 1/4 by 1 inch Both of these have worked as well.

Hope this helps.