Rusting Steel Wool for Weathering

[derpasaurus]

I found a few rust effect tutorials in the other section of this forum. One seemed super easy but overkill for what i'm looking for. (Michael's  rust antiquer or some such) and one seemed, well, like I'd have to buy about $20 more in paints. 

Anyway, what i'm getting at is I had heard about a way to paint mild to medium rust effects that uses real rust, and was wondering if anyone here had any experience with this method:

Basically you just take some super fine steel wool, some white vinegar and Clorox bleach, and mix it all together. Let the stuff sit for a couple of days and a chemical reaction makes a rust wash. 

Minus the "takes a couple of days" thing it sounds so easy it's almost "too good to be true." I'm not looking for super heavy Nurgle/battlefield wreckage rust effects, just minor wear and tear, for treads and hinges, areas like you'd see rusted around your car or whatever. I feel like this would work really well, was just curious if anyone else had tried it or even heard of it.

 

Thanks!

[henrywalker]

I've never heard of doing that but I'm interested certainly. The idea is that your new 'wash' is suspended in bleach and vinegar? Doesn't sound to fun to work with

[derpasaurus]

Yeah, application is the part i was most curious about. I would imagine you'd want to use a throw away brush in a well ventilated area.

[winterdyne]

I tried it, and for the effort, buying a few pots of forgeworld powder was a lot more efficient. Secret Weapon also do some nice rusty pigments.

[derpasaurus]

I tried it, and for the effort, buying a few pots of forgeworld powder was a lot more efficient. Secret Weapon also do some nice rusty pigments.

Was it OK, though? I assume you can vary the "thickness" of the wash by using different amounts of steel wool and/or liquid.

I'm interested in trying it mostly because I have all the things I need for it in my kitchen right now, I won't have to order anything or spend any more money,

[Durus]

I've never heard of doing that but I'm interested certainly. The idea is that your new 'wash' is suspended in bleach and vinegar? Doesn't sound to fun to work with

Looking at this article it seems the vinegar is to remove grease fromt he steel wool.

[derpasaurus]

Ah, that makes it sound like you don't even need to use bleach. Probably much healthier. haha

[winterdyne]

 

I tried it, and for the effort, buying a few pots of forgeworld powder was a lot more efficient. Secret Weapon also do some nice rusty pigments.

Was it OK, though? I assume you can vary the "thickness" of the wash by using different amounts of steel wool and/or liquid.

I'm interested in trying it mostly because I have all the things I need for it in my kitchen right now, I won't have to order anything or spend any more money,

I dried it out to a powder. It works, but your choice of colour is limited. Honestly, you get more control from having a couple of pots of pigment powder. Generally you don't want to apply pigments as a wash themselves-  you put powder down first, then a carrier to shift it about a bit (usualyl white spirit or alcohol).