Rust Easy.......

I've had a few questions privately lately regarding the rust process and its points, so i thought i'd post a mini-tute.

First of all, there could be no easier way to add colour and design to fabric! Beyond common sense and sanitary precautions, there are no dangerous chemicals to use.  No measuring, no additives, no need for "setting" colour and everytime, the results are unique. (Note here--there *are* ways to do this *with* chemicals, but why???? I'm sure there are adherents and fans of this method, but they perhaps can add their two cents as comments or a linking post---Sue K???)

The list of supplies is SO extensive with this easy method-------water, vinegar, a bucket, metal bits, preferably already rusted or starting to, fabric. I'm sure you can find all these *somewhere* :} Of course, you could always order the Giant Economy Size Can'O'Agua from me personally........... 

My bucket  probably holds about 4 gallons worth of water ---the only consideration about size is to have enough room for the liquid, fabric and metal. All i do though is make sure that everything is submersed.

Fabric can be cotton or synthetic, though different synthetics will give different results regarding penetration. Don't ask me, experiment. You can also use silk, BUT it will age faster, weaken the fibers more and probably deteriorate faster. I don't know about wool, but try. Protein fibers are more damaged by this process than cellulose or synthetic. There are no archival records for the length of time any of these fabrics will last, as though rust has always been around, we don't have historical data to review as to longevity of the finished piece, now that we are deliberately putting rust on! _{(Remember when Mom was horrified if she got rusty clothespin marks on the sheets or Dad's shorts?)} Obviously then, if you are concerned about heirloom quality or leaving your mark for history, don't plan on using these fabrics for something that will end up in a museum in a hundred years :}

Vinegar, any vinegar. I don't measure, just eyeball, probably adding one third of this form of acid to two thirds of water. It's cheap, you can't screw it up with too much or too little, though rusting times will vary then. 

Rusty Bits, or RB's as i call em, are found everywhere. Pick pieces up on your walks, clean out the toolshed, hit the garage sales, go to garages and ask, go to the junkyard/scrapyard. If anything has dirt or grease, just scrub with a stiff bristle brush, unless you want those elements added to the mix, which might be interesting, actually :} WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER! Disinfect any cuts or scrapes! If you are really concerned with safety issues, get a tetanus booster. Look for interesting shapes, pieces with holes, chunks that have dimension. If there are holes, you can also sew them on to things :}

Make sure your fabric is clean, washed to remove any finishes. You can roll it with the rusted pieces haphazard in it, lay it out and place them then fold deliberately, mush all the bits and fabric together, tie them in or just huck em in the bucket with the fabric for a wabisabi hopeitworks look. You're the designer. Try all the methods. Don't poke, move and handle the fabric, let it do its thing. You can leave it for a day or a week or a month. Take it out of the bucket and let it sit until it naturally dries---you need some oxidization from air as well to get the truly spectacular results. When it looks ripe, rinse and rinse and rinse and rinse it out.

I left my bucket outside in the sun for 2 days, covered with plastic and a weight. Even though MIL dumped it, not knowing what it was, i still got lovely colouration and patterning. Now i'm going to try the piece again with RB's deliberately tied in, almost a shobori/tie dye method, hoping to get some defined striations and veining.

If you think you can replicate certain ideas, not strictly imitating cause it ain't gonna happen, keep notes on fabric type, duration, where you put the pieces, the method (hucked in, tied, folded in) from the beginning. 

I posted pics of the first dunking in this entry, and i'll add shots of the second dunk when done.

Update on Wed, July 16, 2008 at 12:10PM by arlee

IMPORTANT!!!!!