Rusting Process Explained
At Indoor Outdoors we have many products which we describe as Rustic Steel. This refers to the fact that the item will rust over time to give it that lovely orangey-brown vintage look.
When your product arrives, it may have small patches of rust forming, but it will be in its bare, Mild Steel state. It will be a mostly grey-ish colour. Over time though, as the item is left outside and exposed to the elements, a rusty patina will form on the surface of the steel which gives it that lovely hue. This can take time though, and depends entirely on the outside conditions. Heavy rainfall and bad weather will help it rust faster.
You can speed the rusting process up though, some of our customers have recommended using vinegar, salt or lemon juice on the surface to get that rusty look a little sooner.
Depending on weather conditions, we say it can take anywhere from several weeks, to several months to fully rust. Jason, one of our customers has shared a special tip for achieving that lovely rusty outer in just 2 days!
You can pour equal parts of distilled vinegar and hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle, along with a 1/4 of a standard cup of salt. Spray this mixture all over the product and it will cause an immediate reaction, rusting in just a matter of days!
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