Steel wool in water based finish

[Ron Altier]

I have been hearing about the problems created by using steel wool in water based finishes. 

Does anyone have a picture of the rust in the finish? I am wondering if I cold purposely do that and create a unique finish. Are there problems with the finish coming off or flaking?

[Courtland]

I have been hearing about the problems created by using steel wool in water based finishes. 

Does anyone have a picture of the rust in the finish? I am wondering if I cold purposely do that and create a unique finish. Are there problems with the finish coming off or flaking?

Ron, I have yet to see this actually happen in my own work and I use steel wool a whole lot. I think you would have to work really hard to get some steel wool to linger in the wood by the time you get to the finishing stages. There are other finishing alternatives though that will give you rust in your finish naturally. There are many products out there such as copper powder you can mix in your finish to change the depth and clarity of the finish, and to eventually leave some green hued streaks in the wood finish.

Here is a product that I have heard does very well for what you may want.

I have no horse in the game on this one, I have not even tried it, but from what I hear it works beautifully on wood. These are reactive paints, they react! As in rust, oxidize, and change the color of your wood. Here is a link to the product at Modern Masters.

I bet with a little more investigation you could probably find a way to dump spoon fulls of iron dust in a water based finish, apply it to your project and perhaps the rust streaks would start to appear. Maybe hacksaw some bar stock over a cup to catch the fine dust, and mix it in a 1/4 cup of water based finish, then apply it to test board, and let it do it's thing for a couple weeks and see if you can generate some rust streaks, sounds like a fun test!

[lew]

Ron,

Here are some links to some information. These 3 are about using steel wool and water based finishes

 

https://generalfinishes.com/blog/2015/03/can-i-use-steel-wool-with-water-based-finishes#.VSfl0fnF_a4

 

http://www.steelwool.biz/Steel_Wool_Stuff_to_know1.htm

 

http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f8/steel-wool-no-no-water-based-poly-17437/

 

These 3 are about making a "stain" from steel wool-

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Age-Wood-With-Vinegar-and-Steel-Wool

 

http://http://www.504main.com/2013/11/how-to-age-wood-with-vinegar.html

 

http://www.thediygirl.com/aging-wood-tea-vinegar-steel-wool/

 

This one is to a video from a guy named Izzy Swan showing various home made stains in action-

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQy03U2RWI

[Kevin Beitz]

I've done this with the grindings off my metal cutting band saw.

I sprinkle the metal grindings on the wood and then take a sprinkle

can and put water on it for over night. Works great with Oak. The 

acid in the wood reacts with the metals and gives a stain look to

the wood. Almost looks like a tree with a old nail in it. 

[HandyDan]

Ron, the steel wool gets little snags and pieces remain and rust when the finish is applied.  If you want to create a look with rusted wool I would take some 0000 steel wool and use it on a piece of metal over a clean surface.  Sweep up the swarf and experiment with mixing it into a small amount of water based finish and brush it on.  Just my thoughts.  I have never tried it.

Edited January 25, 2020 by HandyDan

[Gene Howe]

Get some iron filings from a brake drum machine. Get about five gallons. When you're done experimenting, spread the rest around your trees and bushes. Sure greens them up.