Decorative swirl marks on mild steel?

[BlackdogGS]

I made this Trefoil and I’d like to finish it off with some swirl marks. I’m not sure what grit or grinder I should use. I’ll use my 4.5” grinder and then a die grinder for the tight spots. I’ll then clear coat it. What would you suggest?

 

[Xti04]

I made a jig with a roloc disc in my drill press to get a jeweled finish on the table I made for my porta band. Worked out perfectly.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

If you are intending to do Engine Turning on it, then Cratex makes abrasives specifically for it.

If I recall I used the cratex stuff in an ½” size when I did the quill dro bracket on my mill

 

[mogandave]

If you are intending to do Engine Turning on it, then Cratex makes abrasives specifically for it.

If I recall I used the cratex stuff in an ½” size when I did the quill dro bracket on my mill

I always loved this. You can do it with valve lapping compound and a broomstick as well.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I always loved this. You can do it with valve lapping compound and a broomstick as well.

Yep. Lots of ways to get the effect. They key is a consistent abrasive. Ie if you used roloc disks as they wear the pattern would fade. That’s the nice thing about the cratex sticks is it stays consistent. Using a mill helps too, so you can keep the pattern consistent as well.

 

[mogandave]

Yep. Lots of ways to get the effect. They key is a consistent abrasive. Ie if you used roloc disks as they wear the pattern would fade. That’s the nice thing about the cratex sticks is it stays consistent. Using a mill helps too, so you can keep the pattern consistent as well.

Yeah, much better with a mill, but doable on a drill-press using a fence.

I knew an old boy that did a pretty good job with a drill, I never could.

 

[strutaeng]

What about one of those Zirconia flap discs? I think they make them in higher grit? I just go for the 40# and 80# for weld touch if I'm building something where appearance is more important.

What kind of clear are you using?

We had a project once on a high end home and it had a lot of "blackened" steel. I asked the architect how they protected the finish and he said they had done some mockups with clear lacquer but he knew (I didn't have to tell him) that lacquer was not too durable or water resistant. I never knew what they actually used though.

 

[mogandave]

What about one of those Zirconia flap discs? I think they make them in higher grit? I just go for the 40# and 80# for weld touch if I'm building something where appearance is more important.

What kind of clear are you using?

We had a project once on a high end home and it had a lot of "blackened" steel. I asked the architect how they protected the finish and he said they had done some mockups with clear lacquer but he knew (I didn't have to tell him) that lacquer was not too durable or water resistant. I never knew what they actually used though.

Inside or outside? Blackening can provide a decent protection indoors.

I shot a lot of clear Imron back in the day. That stuff was the sh*t, but I doubt you can get it anymore.

 

[strutaeng]

Inside or outside? Blackening can provide a decent protection indoors.

I shot a lot of clear Imron back in the day. That stuff was the sh*t, but I doubt you can get it anymore.

This was an indoor application...

 

[Retroman]

I really like your Trefoil. What size is the tubing I would like to make one. Any pics or drawings of the individual pieces and dimensions.