Wrought Iron Close-up

Karl B. Andersen · Feb 25, 2009

I thought the fittings on the Bowie I recently posted really deserved a closer look.
I love using it because every piece is just a little different than any other.

wnease · Feb 25, 2009

very, nice, i've been hoarding wrought iron dock spikes myself but haven't gotten around to using them. Do you have any tips?

Karl B. Andersen · Feb 25, 2009

You get the best result when etching wrought iron if you have taken it to a full polish first.

Lynnwood · Feb 25, 2009

Your right, that does deserve a second look.

JTknives · Feb 25, 2009

how long do you etch and with what concentration.

Barkes Knife Shop · Feb 25, 2009

Nice work there Karl. I love it --------:thumbup:

Karl B. Andersen · Feb 25, 2009

JTknives said:
how long do you etch and with what concentration.

That was about 30 minutes 3:1

atakach · Feb 25, 2009

Karl B. Andersen said:
You get the best result when etching wrought iron if you have taken it to a full polish first.

i agree:thumbup:

indian george · Feb 25, 2009

WI is my favorite for fittings. I like to finish mine in this manner.I take it to 220 then etch, then bead blast, I keep doing this till I get a deep etch. Then I'll bring it up to 400 and etch and then to 600 then polish.

Dixieblade57 · Feb 25, 2009

That makes me wish I had all the wought iron back we sold in the 70's for scrap, off a job I was working on at the time doing a big renovation project.
Kinda makes me :barf: now when I think about it!
Of course, if I had kept all the stuff I had my hands on at one time or another I would need another house to store it all!!

indian george · Feb 25, 2009

Dixieblade57 said:
That makes me wish I had all the wought iron back we sold in the 70's for scrap, off a job I was working on at the time doing a big renovation project.
Kinda makes me :barf: now when I think about it!
Of course, if I had kept all the stuff I had my hands on at one time or another I would need another house to store it all!!

Dude, you should see the size of the anchor that is seating across from the downtown Fire Station.

At least 400#.

Troop · Feb 25, 2009

Wow! That is so beautiful. I'd love to be able to be at your level.:thumbup:

JTknives · Feb 25, 2009

Karl B. Andersen said:
That was about 30 minutes 3:1

I am doing a smaple chunk, took it up to 600 grit and then gave it a guick polish with some diamond compound. its in the etch right now. i never seam to get bubbles when i try to etch WI is this normal

Karl B. Andersen · Feb 25, 2009

JTknives said:
I am doing a smaple chunk, took it up to 600 grit and then gave it a guick polish with some diamond compound. its in the etch right now. i never seam to get bubbles when i try to etch WI is this normal

I guess I don't understand your question.
Bubbles?
I don't get bubbles with FeCl when I etch anything.
I would also never consider trying to "polish" anything at 600. Maybe 1500, or better yet 2000.
600 is way to coarse to polish.
You can put on a lot of compound and maybe get it shiny, but in doing so, you 'move' and "smoosh" the surface around of whatever it is you are trying to polish.
220-400-800-1200-1500-2000-then just a quick buff and you have a MIRROR!
Then, the surface is not all smeared around and you get a MUCH better etch.

JTknives · Feb 25, 2009

ya some times when i etch carbon steel i see little bubbles forum on the steel as it's being etched.

Troop · Feb 25, 2009

JTknives said:
ya some times when i etch carbon steel i see little bubbles forum on the steel as it's being etched.

JT, Sure you're not using Coca-cola?