Craft People! How Do You Rust Jingle Bells?

libby74

libby74

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I make a lot of primitive craft items and like to use rusty jingle bells and safety pins on them. I've found a couple of recipes on the web telling me how to rust the items myself, but they just don't come out the way I'd like.
The best recipe I've found uses peroxide, salt, & vinegar; the bells usually end up blotchy, tho.
Does anyone do this rusting technique? If so, what's the best way to do it?
Thanks!
 
gemlady

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Well, if you aren't in a hurry, let nature do it. Otherwise, I'm stumped. I imagine the ones commercially available use pretty caustic substances.
 
weldrwomn

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I am assuming that you arestarting out with a bell that has been electroplated with brass or some other coating. What you might do for a more even rust is lightly sand the coating before spraying with salt water. If you want to speed up the rusting process even further, add some heat - like a warm oven or furnace register. Another way to remove any coating involves heating up the bell with a torch to burn the coating off then using your saltwater....that would be my preference.
 
carolpetunia

carolpetunia

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If the bells are aluminum or chrome-plated, they may not rust at all. But there's an iron-based paint you can get in craft stores -- it comes out dark grey, and then you use the accompanying "ruster" liquid to make it rust. It turns rusty in a matter of hours, as I recall.

It's been years ago, but I know I got it at a Michael's or Hobby Lobby type of place. And it works on anything -- it doesn't even have to be metal, because you're painting iron dust onto the surface yourself. Both parts came in small plastic bottles the same size as the "Folk Art" and other acrylic paints you're probably familiar with, so they may be part of one of those product lines.

Good luck!


EDIT -- I found it!

http://www.dickblick.com/zz271/05/
 
Ms. Freya

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The peroxide, salt and vinegar is the one I use, but I sand the metal lightly before doing it - I find that evens it out.

Another option, if you have a ceramics place near you (or any place with a really good craft supply section) is to see if they have textured paint with sand. I've used this for Christmas decorations and nativity scenes as it comes in tons of different colours, but the sand texture gives whatever you paint a rough look and feel. I haven't seen this for awhile, though, so I'm only guessing that it's still available...
 
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libby74

libby74

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It's been years ago, but I know I got it at a Michael's or Hobby Lobby type of place. And it works on anything -- it doesn't even have to be metal, because you're painting iron dust onto the surface yourself. Both parts came in small plastic bottles the same size as the "Folk Art" and other acrylic paints you're probably familiar with, so they may be part of one of those product lines.
Click to expand...
I looked for something like that at Lowe's and didn't find it. Maybe I should try Home Depot.

The peroxide, salt and vinegar is the one I use, but I sand the metal lightly before doing it - I find that evens it out.
Click to expand...
You mean you actually sand each little bell by hand?! I guess that would be a good activity while watching tv.
 
carolpetunia

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I've never seen it at a hardware store -- only craft stores. Or you might be able to order it through that website.
 
swampwitch

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You wouldn't believe what the salt air did to our BBQ; it pretty much imploded when it collapsed from the rust, lol. You can send the bells to me if you want and I'll leave them on our back deck for a few months.
 
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If you can't find it locally, do consider ordering through DickBlick. They're rather speedy on their shipping and always have great sales.
 
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libby74

libby74

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You wouldn't believe what the salt air did to our BBQ; it pretty much imploded when it collapsed from the rust, lol. You can send the bells to me if you want and I'll leave them on our back deck for a few months.
Click to expand...
Our grill did the same thing, and we don't even have salt air in Illinois
 
Ms. Freya

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Originally Posted by libby74

You mean you actually sand each little bell by hand?! I guess that would be a good activity while watching tv.
Click to expand...
Yep...I actually did it while watching TV.

Albeit I don't usually do bells and the one time I did they were about the size of golf bals, so not actually that tiny...
 
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butzie

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

If the bells are aluminum or chrome-plated, they may not rust at all. But there's an iron-based paint you can get in craft stores -- it comes out dark grey, and then you use the accompanying "ruster" liquid to make it rust. It turns rusty in a matter of hours, as I recall.

It's been years ago, but I know I got it at a Michael's or Hobby Lobby type of place. And it works on anything -- it doesn't even have to be metal, because you're painting iron dust onto the surface yourself. Both parts came in small plastic bottles the same size as the "Folk Art" and other acrylic paints you're probably familiar with, so they may be part of one of those product lines.

Good luck!


EDIT -- I found it!

http://www.dickblick.com/zz271/05/
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I remembered.
 
weldrwomn

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I'm telling ya, A nice hot torch is the way to go...Burn off the coating, then mist with saltwater....probably a heck of a lot quicker than sanding. Plus, a torch is a very useful thing for other projects too.
 
Ms. Freya

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Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

I'm telling ya, A nice hot torch is the way to go...Burn off the coating, then mist with saltwater....probably a heck of a lot quicker than sanding. Plus, a torch is a very useful thing for other projects too.
Click to expand...
That is a really good idea...I never thought of taking the torch to them. I'm going to have to try that.
 
weldrwomn

weldrwomn

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Just a word of caution - various coatings and chemicals can give off noxious fumes when burned - best not done in the living area. Make sure you have good ventilation.
 
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