Rusty nuts.

[MontyVeda]

I'm designing a table/bench, and want a big old rusty nut embedded in each corner of the table top. hopefully I'll get what I'm after from the scrap yard... but if I have to buy new, how can i get a stainless steel nut like this...

...to look like this...

...that won't take several years?

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Iron sulphate or sulphate of iron. About a fiver in any garden centre. Mix in some water and soak your nuts.

 

[screenman]

Got any lawn weed and feed?

 

[MontyVeda]

Thanks. I guess you're both thinking along the same lines ...the nuts may be zinc plated, would the iron sulphate still work?

I think former blacksmith @numbnuts might be some help too.

 

[I like Skol]

Don't buy stainless steel for a start, because you will never achieve the desired look with them!

Plain steel, or bzp if that is all you can get, but getting nuts that are already old and rusty is the best option. How big is big? The nuts off old towbars can be pretty big, but the really BIG stuff will be from a lorry scrap yard or somewhere industrial.

 

[MontyVeda]

Don't buy stainless steel for a start, because you will never achieve the desired look with them!

Plain steel, or bzp if that is all you can get, but getting nuts that are already old and rusty is the best option. How big is big? The nuts off old towbars can be pretty big, but the really BIG stuff will be from a lorry scrap yard or somewhere industrial.

Absolutely.
M20*, preferably with a 150mm bolt/screw... but i don't mind if the bolt/screw is new... i only want the nuts to look rustic.

*or an imperial equivalent. Doesn't matter providing i can get matching bolts.

 

[Piemaster]

As @I like Skol says, don't buy stainless. You use stainless (or galvanised) to avoid rust.
If you use new, heat them red hot - it'll destroy any coating on them. Cooling in salt water will probably speed the process along. Overnight will probably get the result you want.

 

[palinurus]

I could sell you the wheel nuts from my winter commuter.

 

[MontyVeda]

As @I like Skol says, don't buy stainless. You use stainless (or galvanised) to avoid rust.
If you use new, heat them red hot - it'll destroy any coating on them. Cooling in salt water will probably speed the process along. Overnight will probably get the result you want.

aye i get that... it's just looking online, most seem to be rust resistant in someway or another, hence asking how i can get them rusty. There's no way i could heat them 'til red hot, so that's not going to work for me, but a good idea anyway

 

[classic33]

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ykkBEa1nCWI

 

[numbnuts]

As others have said chemicals will do the job, but if using new ones and they are coated heating them up would help the process, but you will have to get them quite hot, your best bet is to buy them all ready aged from a scrapyard.

 

[Piemaster]

aye i get that... it's just looking online, most seem to be rust resistant in someway or another, hence asking how i can get them rusty. There's no way i could heat them 'til red hot, so that's not going to work for me, but a good idea anyway

Do you not have access to a kitchen hob?

 

[Profpointy]

black steel ones will rust quite quickly

 

[MontyVeda]

Do you not have access to a kitchen hob?

i do. I was thinking i'd need a blow torch, but on further reflection, a gas hob would do the job

 

[Wobblers]

If you're patient, simply immerse them in salt solution - that'll probably take a few days. Adding a little bleach ought to speed things up. If they come galvanised, dunking them in vinegar for a couple of hours will remove the zinc coating - then they can get the brine treatment.