Aging Sheet Metal

While many metals may have their properties altered through heating and quenching or work hardening some metal alloys are specifically formulated to be aged aging can alter the physical and aesthetic properties of an alloy to give it characteristics quite different than its unaged form.

Aging sheet metal. In this post i ll show you step by step how to age galvanized metal the super easy way. Galvanized metal is usually zink or iron with a coating of steal sealed over it to prevent it from rusting. Patina is a catch all phrase to mean the look of age or weathering that occurs to all items. It can be the lichen on old buildings and bridges unchanged for centuries or the look of a well loved piece of antique furniture.

Here is a side by side comparison of the brand new metal and the aged metal. Have you ever wondered how to age metal. I ve read about aging metal using chemicals but i didn t have those materials on hand. The planter is a little too shiny for my liking so i thought i d try my hand at aging it to give it a more rustic farmhouse look.

To age the metal i decided to hand paint the aged metal patina. Once removed by renovation the patina will never be the same. But once it arrived i realized it was a tad too shiny for my taste and it could use a little tarnish but i wanted to age galvanized metal quickly. You ll be amazed at how beautifully this turns out.

Here is the stock image from amazon. Be sure to follow all safety warning on product labels protect your skin and eyes. The aging process helped take the shine off of the entire surface as well as etching into the metal to give a nice patina. To age galvanized metal start by sanding it with 80 grit sandpaper until it no longer looks shiny and slick.

Here s a way to speed the natural process of the steal coating wearing off. The best part is you probably already have all. Work in a well ventilated space preferably outdoors and keep all chemicals away from children and pets. Do not mix the lysol with the home made patina solution.

We can get that look at home and it doesn t require much time at all. To make a piece of galvanized metal look old and rusty and chippy and have a wonderful patina takes years of outdoor wear. But if for some reason your metal still looks too new for you liking just repeat the process. You should be left with beautifully aged metal.

Metal aging is one of the most common ways to alter the properties of a metal alloy.