I want to do some artwork using my Tig welder. I can make the rainbow colors, which may not be desirable as a perfect weld, but is for making art. I tried to coat the cooled piece with some clear spray lacquer. After 3 days the colors are faded except for gold and silver. Does anyone know how to coat these colors so they can be preserved? Leaving them uncovered exposes them to smearing from hands, which erases the colors. Thanks
Hi Nessy,
Welcome to the obsolete AWS Welding Forum!
I remember a high school shop project making steel sheet metal butterflies. It had the rainbow of colours created from the cutting torch. If I remember correctly, I used rubbed steel wool onto scrap aluminium(?) stainless(?) (can't remember), then rubbed it onto the sheet metal.
The colours were amazing since it spread in wide bands from the cut edges. Clear lacquer spray after.
Good luck
Tyrone
Nessy,
If the part in question is going to have constant contact, I don't really see a way to preserve the oxide colors :(
If they are a static display and not handled at all.... Stainless will last for decades with nothing at all.
Carbon steel I use a clear coat to keep rust off my oxide colors (patina)
The shot glass is titanium with no coating at all and is 20 years old and has never lost the patina.... It gets a small bit of use :)
Lawrence,
Did the same maple leaves joined to a branch!
Nice work.
All my shop projects are still at my parents. I'll take some pics the next time I visit.
Tyrone