Coating for non painted vise?

[Rezarf]

I spent an hour the other day taking a wire brush to my old Columbian 504 that I picked up at a yard sale. It had about 4 layers of paint and grime. Now that the paint is gone, I spot painted a section with some Rustoleum grey hammered spray paint... and have come to the conclusion that I totally dig the patina and raw look.

I am going to wire off the spot of fresh paint and leave it unpainted.

I was just gonna rub in some oil or cold blue... is there other/better options? Maybe floor wax? I have made some knives and I have used ferric chloride to etch carbon steels, any idea if it will darken ductile iron? I live in dry (usually) Colorado so rust is of very little concern.

 

[Warrenator]

Linseed oil is supposed to make a nice finish. I just wiped mine down with way oil (similar to chainsaw bar oil).

 

[jakemac]

There are several ways that you can go.

Boiled Linseed Oil - The traditional method of preserving wood and metal. It will take some time to dry, but with repeated applications will give good protection. Will need periodic re-applications. Consider it routine maintenance

Paste Wax - Will also give good protection, but will feel "grippy" until it fully cures. It will also scrape or flake off under heavy use. The upside is that it can be polished. Will also need periodic re-applications.

Clear Poly Spray or Brush-on Polyurethane - Just say no.

If this will be a "working" vise, you could always just use motor oil or grease. But that won't make it look pretty. Just useful.

 

[hofferwood]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flood-Penetrol-1-qt-Clear-Paint-Additive-FLD4-04/100130893#.UjpRDH9F3U4

 

[EOC_Jason]

Paste Wax works for me... I'm sure wiping it down with a light oil would work just as good.

 

[LG63]

Boiled Linseed Oil - The traditional method of preserving wood and metal. It will take some time to dry, but with repeated applications will give good protection. Will need periodic re-applications. Consider it routine maintenance

Does linseed oil ever actually dry? I lightly coated some plate steel a week ago and it's still tacky.

 

[jakemac]

Does linseed oil ever actually dry? I lightly coated some plate steel a week ago and it's still tacky.

Are you sure that you used boiled linseed oil ? I only ask because I've mixed them up before.

If boiled, then eventually yes. As I said, it will take time. In humid conditions it could take months. A tacky feel could take longer to go away. Keep rubbing it lightly with a lint-free cloth. As you wear the oil down, and it dries, the tacky feel will go away. With repeated applications, it could take years before a good layer is built up to the point that you can leave it for a while. But for practical purposes, just a few application cycles should do. After that, you can let it go for longer.

It's a labor of love.

 

[LG63]

Are you sure that you used boiled linseed oil ? I only ask because I've mixed them up before.

If boiled, then eventually yes. As I said, it will take time. In humid conditions it could take months. A tacky feel could take longer to go away. Keep rubbing it lightly with a lint-free cloth. As you wear the oil down, and it dries, the tacky feel will go away. With repeated applications, it could take years before a good layer is built up to the point that you can leave it for a while. But for practical purposes, just a few application cycles should do. After that, you can let it go for longer.

It's a labor of love.

Yes, it was boiled, I think that's the only type Home Depot carries.

 

[beltdrive]

wondering how people like Flood penetrol for vise restoration...or antiques...tool boxes...etc....seems like a good way to keep the patina but also add a clear coat.

 

[Steve_P]

POR 15 makes a metal prep that contains phosphoric acid and is awesome. Way better than the cold blue junk. It will turn metal gray to black depending on alloy and immersion time and it will not rust if kept indoors.

 

[seagull369]

I'm sure I'll get yelled at for saying, but used motor oil works quite well for stuff like that, plus it's free. Just work a good amount of it in with a brush and let the excess drip overnight. If you wanted to go further, heat the vise up in an oven 1st for a couple hours at 125 F or so before applying the oil.

Make sure the surface is clean and dry prior to applying, and the metal will just soak it up. A stiff brush, soap and hot water followed by a quick propane torch drying would accomplish that while keeping any additional corrosion to a minimum.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I use paste wax every spring and fall on my vise and drill press table.

 

[ZRX61]

Does linseed oil ever actually dry? I lightly coated some plate steel a week ago and it's still tacky.

Put it somewhere warm. I live in the Mojave Desert. If I coat something with BLO in the Summer, it's dry the next day, In the Winter it stays tacky for weeks.

 

[Shiftless]

A few of the guys use boiled linseed oil and then bake the vise or whatever in an old electric meat smoker. That’s a simulation of leaving it out in the sun somewhere in the Mojave desert.

 

[rtz]

I've used this bare metal clear coat on an item I use outdoors and it holds up well. They also sell it in cans:

https://www.kbs-coatings.com/DiamondFinish-Clear-Aerosol.html

 

[Fordoldfart]

+1 clear coat

 

[matt_i]

I'd use either LPS3 or Boeshield T9. Either one, you don't want to spray on a dripping coat and let it dry (unless its for long term storage). Just wipe with a paper towel until most of it is absorbed and a very thin coat is left. It dries and will prevent corrosion.

 

[dadsEH]

I have had some cast iron parts restored and coated with " black Kiwi liquid shoe polish" . 10 years on and still looking new.

 

[RKA]

Lacquer with a rattle can. Dries quick, put a couple coats.

 

[Parrothead]

To be upfront, I’ve never tried this on a vise, so...

That said I’d use some Spraymax 2k clear and a clear primer. Both can be purchased in rattle cans. If it’s good enough for wheels, it should work on a vise.

 

[Air21]

I think my 1952 Home Handyman's guide says to apply boiled linseed oil every day for a week, then every week for a month, then every month for a year. Or something like that...

 

[bdbecker]

I've had bare metal workbench tops for a few years now. A little wipe down with PB Blaster every now and then has kept them rust free.

 

[jonshonda]

I am a fan on BLO, have to apply real thin or it takes forever to dry. I was chatting with a blacksmith this wknd who said he uses beeswax and applies it to hot metal to preserve and darken.

 

[tarbellb]

Tung Oil

 

[Tynndareus]

+1 clear coat

If you have any spray guns, I would recommend going to an auto paint shop and seeing what they recommend. If not a $10 can of clear coat works all the same.