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Rusting obelisk - worth cleaning?

RubyRossRubyRoss Posts: 124
in Problem solving
Bought an obelisk last week and put it in place outside. It rusted considerably in that time. Long term, I probably will let it rust but I didn't think it would happen so fast. It's beside the front door and needs time for a rose to grow. If it has rusted so much in a week, am I wasting my time trying to clean and paint it? And how would you clean it?


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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd leave it. 

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I'd leave it to rust ... much more attractive than painted ... and very 'on trend' in garden design ... just look at all the rusted metal used at Chelsea the past couple of years.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Once you've painted it, it starts to look worse as time goes on. 

    Devon.
  • RubyRossRubyRoss Posts: 124
    I'm glad I asked because I've better things to do with my afternoon! @Hostafan1 Good point about rust looking worse with paint
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    RubyRoss said:
    I'm glad I asked because I've better things to do with my afternoon! @Hostafan1 Good point about rust looking worse with paint
    sorry, but I think shabby paint looks much worse than rust
    Devon.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Isn't it great when the advice is to do nothing!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited September 2022
    Another point to remember, if it's painted , and you have plants on it, how do you repaint it?
    Devon.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    As it rusted straight away from new, it was probably meant to (it would have come treated if not). The rusted-metal look is fashionable.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've had all my obelisks made for me, and none are treated.
    Devon.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    It is meant to develop a rust-red patina.  It won't rust away, but last for ages.

    If you really want to clean rusty steel, I use a 50/50 mix of Meths and Syrupy Phosphoric acid.  Works wonders. Ends up black and passive, and paintable.  But DYOR.

    I use it on small through-to-the-metal chips on my car.  I started with the problematic weld covers on my first Mini.  It flows into gaps.

    bédé MA PhD
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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