Metal Dyes and Patinas?

[Engineer1964]

Looking at something similar and different for a weather vane i'm going to be making

http://www.steelf-x.com/supplies.html?gclid=CKfK1_fSirICFWLktgod5nEA2Q

Just wondering if you can get anything similar in the UK, and do these dyes etc make it rust proof or will it need some sort of clear coating??

Another idea was by using a chemical Black Kit to dye the metal and rustproof all in one??

I can get these kits on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Bla..._Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item5894949e64

 

[Chipper]

I have got a list somewhere of UK shops & links to home-brew recipes for patinas, can't find it though. May have been eaten by a dying PC. But they are available, don't think alone they do much of anything re rustproofing though.

There's oils like they use in the blacking kits, and linseed and others, but they don't seem to be perfect, I've had various things in the garden for months. Any sharp edges and the like are first to let rain do it's stuff. 2k clear is good but there's the kit and H&S side. Would expect varnishes to need re-doing now & then, but not sure of that.
Haven't tried repeated heat & dip in manky oil, and leaving outdoors; as it happens there's such a bit right in front of me, so I'll strategically place it outdoors in a bit... maybe spritz it with salt water in the evening, see how it goes..

 

[outofthefire]

Guns rust if you don't look after them and they're blacked I would't count on it as a weather proof finish.

 

[ChrisJohnsSculpture]

Any metal patina, especially on steel is never going to be all that weatherproof on its own and will need some sort of coating to protect it.

The main decision is whether you want to use a polymer lacquer/varnish which will be pretty much zero maintenance for quite a while but will eventually need refinishing or a wax/oil finish which will last forever but needs regular maintenance.

For decorative stuff I'm quite a fan of letting it rust (or accelerating the process with peroxide or brick acid), sealing with a few coats of thinned Tung Oil and then finishing with wax.