Forum home› Tools and techniques
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

a roll of wire that will rust

FireFire Posts: 19,096
edited 16 March in Tools and techniques
I am looking to bind a structure in the garden with wire  to give it a rusted look. I would like it to last (not rust through) but colour up quickly - a bit like corten steel. It would be the kind of wire that artists use to make rust sculpture.  All the rolls of wire I can find are galvanised, stainless steel, or zinc plated (in order to not rust).

Thoughts welcome. Thanks





Posts

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    How long, do you want a cable roll for more projects or a certain length like X metres rather than a huge roll of cable?

    What gauge/ how thick?

    I think you can use something like vinegar to weaken galvanized treatment, I forget now who and why. I might only weaken and dull it. But worth checking out if you can't find untreated.

    Chicken wire for example is galvanized (not what you want I think) but it does rust quite quickly under soil under compost bins.

    Buy a cheap roll from....C h * n a , the quality will be totally pants and rust away nicely :D
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Rubytoo said:
    How long, do you want a cable roll for more projects or a certain length like X metres rather than a huge roll of cable?

    What gauge/ how thick?



    I reckon 20m should do it, about the gauge of barbed wire - that is easily bent but robust enough to last a good few years. I have now found some "corten steel wire" and some "mild steel wire". Sometimes it's about spending ages looking for the right search terms - the exact names - for what you are looking for. Or discovering products exist that you didn't know where out there.

    I have mentioned on the forum before about "knitted" metal. I think it's terrifically useful stuff. Of different gauges in all sorts of metal. Very easy to work with. Lasts for ages, good against slugs (possibly), birds, good for crafting.... I have some copper but the tarnish (at this point) is pretty ugly. Knitted mild steel might rust away too fast...

    It's a good thought to treat metals before using them. Thanks for that.






  • CebeCebe Posts: 61
    You could try jewellery binding wire - it’s used for holding pieces together while soldering, & is available in .5mm thickness I think. It’s quite bendable but not so much it would go out of shape. It definitely goes rusty, though how long it would last outside I don’t know 
Sign In or Register to comment.