Metal Finish Supply, Inc. manufactures four distinct types of products. These include steel finishing solutions, ornamental rusting solutions for steel, room temperature patinas for copper, brass & bronze and metallic faux finish latex glazes. Below is a basic description of these four product lines, followed by individual product information.
Our steel finish solutions are designed for use directly on steel surfaces in order to chemically alter the color and appearance of the steel. With the exception of our Antique Pewter solution, all of these formulas are intended only for use on steel and other ferrous metals. The Antique Pewter solution will work not only on steel, but also on many other metals. Like all of the products we sell, our steel finishes work at room temperature and are easy and safe to use. These products offer the metal finisher a multitude of options that cannot be achieved by the use of paint, powder coating or other standard methods.
Our EasyRust™ finishes are intended to produce various shades of attractive ornamental rusts on steel and most ferrous alloys. To a limited degree, they will also rust or patina a few other metals. These formulas act in two ways. First they lightly copper plate the steel, creating glowing under tones, while at the same time they accelerate the formation of an attractive overlying surface rust. By using an Easy Rust™, attractive rust finishes are achieved in a matter of minutes to hours, rather than days.
Patination occurs naturally with time on nearly every metal used by man, but especially on copper and copper alloys such as brass and bronze. Our patina oxidizers are designed to produce beautiful, natural patinas on brass, bronze, copper and our copper alloy metallic glazes without waiting for nature to do the job. Although this is the design intention, they will also work to limited degrees on various other metals producing rusts and colored patina effects. We offer only room temperature formulas. They require no special equipment and no dangerous or complicated application methods.
Our metallic latex glazes are water-based, faux finish latex glazes that contain real metal flakes in suspension. They are designed for use on non-metal surfaces to produce a metallic appearance, which may they be altered by applying one of our copper patina solutions. In certain applications they may also be used on metal surfaces if the surface is properly prepared. Unlike most metallic paints, our faux finish glazes can be treated with one of our copper patina solutions, which will then develop a natural patina by reacting with the copper suspended in the glaze. We offer five colors of copper alloy glazes. Because they are compatible, these glazes may be blended together to form an unlimited number of custom colors. These copper alloy glazes can be treated with one or more of our patina oxidizers to form blue, green, turquoise and other naturally occurring copper patinas.
Primary use
Secondary use
Application Method
For best results, steel being plated must be completely clean and free from all oils, mil plate, rust and any other contaminants. Wear latex gloves if handling part by hand as finger oils will effect the plate quality. Prep steel by sandblasting, pickling, grinding, wire brushing or sanding. EasyPlate™ will work on un-prepped steel, but uneven plating will occur. Remove residual oils and dirt particles with mild detergent in solution. Rinse with water to remove soap residue. EasyPlate™ may be applied either by spray or immersion, but immersion is recommended for an even plating. Immersion time is normally 1-2 seconds resulting in a bright copper layer. After plating, immediately rinse in a water bath to remove excess plating solution. If desired, apply ReactArrest™ to neutralize the chemical residue, allow ReactArrest™ to remain for 20 seconds then rinse again. At this point to retain the shiny plating, the finished part must be quick dried by blowing off the water with compressed air or another method of your choice. This will avoid a surface rust from forming, as would happen if the part were allowed to air dry. Alternately, you may wish to allow the part to dry naturally, allowing a slight amount of rust to form, altering the appearance and texture. At this point the part must be sealed with an appropriate topcoat such as an acrylic, enamel, lacquer, wax, clear powder coat etc., otherwise rust will eventually form.
EasyPlate™ may also be used in conjunction with our EasyTorch™, Antique Pewter and Antique Black solutions to radically alter the final appearance. If using one of these products along with EasyPlate™, skip the ReactArrest™ step until finished applying the other solutions. See appropriate product for application information.
Technical Data
Contains a mild acid. Wear protective clothing, latex gloves,
and eye protection and use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator if
spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250.
Primary Use
Application Method
First clean steel then plate with EasyPlate™ according to the directions. Do not dry the plated part before using EasyTorch™, apply EasyTorch™ immediately after plating and rinsing. The EasyTorch™ solution can be applied in many different ways, but the usual method is to spray the areas you wish to color with a concentrated mist until the colors begin to form. Some prefer to use a plastic airbrush with a controllable tip. For others a plastic bottle with a mist trigger sprayer is adequate. Drops of solution can be placed upon the plated surface and then blown in random directions to form sunbursts, lines or random patterns. Regardless of the method of application, wherever the solution comes into contact with the plated surface, color changes will occur. The colors formed will include shades of gray, blue, green, and red plus many more. Once the desired look is reached, rinse the part with water to remove the excess solution. Apply ReactArrest™, allowing it to react for twenty seconds, rinse again and then quick dry to avoid rust forming. Part must then be coated with an appropriate top coat to avoid the formation of rust.
EasyTorch™ will also color parts plated with our EasyRust™. Application is the same as above. Just apply the EasyTorch™ immediately after the EasyRust™ is applied skipping the rinse step and allow the part to dry naturally. Periodically mist the part with water and allow it to dry between mists to promote rust. As the part rusts, the colors will soften and change shades. When you are satisfied with the finish, rinse the part well apply the ReactArrest™, rinse, dry and seal with an appropriate clear top coat.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection
and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator when
spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Application Method
Sand, sandblast, buff, polish or grind the metal to a bare surface before applying the EasyBlue™ solution. Remove any dust, dirt and oils. Wear latex gloves when handling the cleaned part as even finger oils will inhibit darkening. The most even results are achieved when the part being blued is immersed in the solution and agitated until an even degree of darkening is reached. After immersion, rinse the darkened part in water to remove the excess solution and then dry. A layer of fine, dark rust will form. This rust should be removed and is easily done so with a burnishing wheel or soft cloth. This rubbing or burnishing helps to even out the finish. The part may be immersed again to further darken the metal, rinsed, dried and burnished or rubbed. Repeat this process until satisfied. Two or three applications is usually enough. Spray part with ReactArrest™ to neutralize any residual chemical, alloy it to react for twenty seconds and rinse with water. Dry the finished part. The end result will be a durable finish in shades ranging from a light copper/purple to a dark blue/black. Our EasyBlue™ may also be applied by working the solution into the surface of the metal with a scratch brush, green scrubbie or other such abrasive pad. It will also work when used as a spray, although an even finish is difficult to achieve with this method. EasyBlue™ will darken some metals other than steel, and will tarnish copper and copper alloys. The final, burnished finish is a mild rust inhibitor, but will not prevent rust. In order to prevent the part from rusting it must be oiled, waxed or coated with a clear top coat, such as acrylic, enamel etc..
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection
and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator
when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Tarnish copper to a light brown.
Application Method
Steel: For good results the steel must be cleaned to bare metal removing all dirt, rust, mil scale, dusts and oils. Spray solution onto the part, or immerse part in the solution for a few seconds. Rinse darkened part to remove excess solution. To avoid formation of rust blow dry part with compressed air to quickly remove water and moisture. A fragile rust usually forms. At this point the darkened part may be sealed with a clear top coat, oil or wax, leaving a very dark, black finish. Alternately, if desired, the darkened part may instead be burnished, or in other words, carefully rubbing off a portion of the finish with a soft cloth or a felt wheel on a rotary tool. The part may then be re-darkened and the process repeated until the desired finish is produced. Many different finishes may be created in this fashion.
Copper: This solution to some extent tarnish copper and it's alloys to a light dull brown.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection
and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator
when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Tarnish copper and copper alloys to unpredictable colors.
Application Method
Steel: For good results the steel must be cleaned to bare metal removing all dirt, rust, mil scale, dusts and oils. Spray solution onto the part, or immerse part in the solution for a few seconds. Rinse darkened part to remove excess solution. To avoid formation of rust blow dry part with compressed air to quickly remove water and moisture. At this point the darkened part may be sealed with a clear top coat, oil or wax, leaving a very dark, black finish. Alternately, if desired, the darkened part may instead be burnished, or in other words, carefully rubbing off a portion of the finish with a soft cloth or a felt wheel on a rotary tool. The part may then be re-darkened and the process repeated until the desired finish is produced. Many different finishes may be created in this fashion.
Copper: This solution to some extent tarnish copper and it's alloys to a luster series of colors. The color change gradually follows a somewhat predictable pattern of light browns then purples then blues then finally steely blacks. The colors are dependant upon the amount of time the metal is immersed or in contact with the solution. When the desired effect is obtained, rinse the part to remove the excess solution, dry and seal the finished part with a clear top coat, wax or oil.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection
and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator
when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Application Method
Clean the steel to be darkened down to bare steel. Either spray the Antique Pewter solution onto the cleaned metal or immerse the clean part in the solution until darkened. Rinse the part to remove any excess solution. Quickly dry the darkened part. A fragile rust usually forms, and should be removed with a burnishing wheel or soft cloth. This process may be repeated until the part is as dark as desired. By lightly removing some of the finish from the high spots and leaving the recessed areas dark, a natural looking pewter finish can be produced on most steel alloys. The part should be neutralized with ReactArrest™, rinsed, dried and then oiled, waxed or a clear top coat applied to avoid the formation of rust.
To achieve an antique copper look on steel, use one of two methods. The first is to darken the part with the Antique Pewter solution, burnish most of the finish off of the higher areas. Next, either spray on EasyPlate™ or quickly immerse part in the EasyPlate™ solution. A dull copper plate will form on the burnished areas, with the Antique Pewter darkened areas left darkened. Rinse the part to remove excess solution, spray with ReactArrest™, rinse again, dry and seal.
The second method is exactly the same procedure, except you should reverse the order of use of the solutions. First plate the part with EasyPlate, burnish off the highlights, then darken with Antique Pewter. This will give you a dull copper background with a darkened copper foreground.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, solution will
darken skin and finger nails,
eye protection and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a
chemical respirator when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary use
Secondary use
Application Method
EasyRust™ Ornamental Rust Finish For Steel Dark *Medium *Light
Each of our EasyRust™ solutions work in the same fashion, but produce slightly different end colors of rust. Although the most important factors in determining the end color of the rust is how much rust is allowed to form and what is the alloy content of the steel being rusted. Cleaning the steel to a bare, clean oil free surface is essential for an even rust. Our EasyRusts™ will work over light mill plate, but will not rust evenly. For an even, ornamentally attractive rust finish, the part to be treated must first be cleaned down to bare steel, removing all mill plate and wiped free of all dirt and oils. When the metal is clean, either spray with EasyRust™ until an even, medium-bright plating of copper appears, or immerse the part in the EasyRust™ solution for one to two seconds. (Don’t over apply. One light application is all that is required. Heavy or multiple applications tend to peel until a very deep rust is formed.) Do not rinse off the residual EasyRust™, as it contains the rusting agent. Allow the treated part to air dry and begin to rust naturally. The treated part should now be placed in a high humidity environment and timed to allow promotion of the correct level of rust. An alternate method is to periodically mist the treated part with water until the desired level of rust is achieved. The time required varies according to the level of rust desired, ranging from a matter minutes to one or two days. Once the look you want is reached, rinse the part well in water to remove the residual EasyRust™. Spray the part with ReactArrest™ to neutralize, rinse again with water, dry, then seal if appropriate.
To use with EasyTorch™, first immerse cleaned steel into the EasyRust™ solution or spray the part with EasyRust™. Shake off excess solution, but do not rinse. While the part is still wet, spray with EasyTorch™ according to directions. Allow the part to air dry and rust naturally. The treated part may be placed in a high humidity rust room or misted with water to accelerate the rusting process. As the part rusts, the colors present will gradually change and blend together until only subtle shades of lighter and darker browns and reds remain. This process can be stopped at any time your desired look is reached. Simply rinse the part well with water, spray with ReactArrest™, rinse again, dry and seal.
Unsealed parts will continue to rust, colors may change, rust may rub off on hands or stain concrete. But if the rusted part is sealed with a clear top coat paint, it must be realized that applying a topcoat paint over a non primed, rusted surface will not be a durable solution in many situations. On parts designed for indoor use this usually works well. On exterior parts exposed to the elements it should be expected that the clear paint will not remain for very long, but will peel in patches. We suggest that in these situations either leave the part unsealed or use Boiled Linseed Oil.
What If?
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Application Method
By patina, we mean any solution that will chemically alter or patina the surface of copper and it's alloys, brass and bronze. This usually results in shades of blue, green, blue/green, but may include milky white, purples and others. A full sized reference work would be required in order to cover all of the known methods of patination of copper, brass and bronze. Those wishing to understand and use these methods are well advised to read some of the fine works available on line or in your library. Experimentation is also a wonderful teacher and can not be underestimated. In a nutshell, any method used that results in the Patina Solution coming into contact with a copper alloy will result in some form of color change over time. Some of the most common forms of application include immersion, spraying, splattering, brushing, dripping, or sponging the patina solution onto the part being colored. After a patina has formed, the color may be altered by with water or by applying another Patina Solution over it. Chemically accelerated patinas tend to form too fast for the color to work deeply into the surface of the metal and so therefore tend to be somewhat fragile, and will partially rub off. To solve this problem, try to incorporate an application method that will allow the patina reaction to take place over a period of time, such as several hours or days.
A popular and very old application method is to impregnate sawdust or some other spongy material with the Patina Solution and then pack the parts to be treated in an airtight container, with the impregnated sawdust all around. Allow those parts to remain in the sawdust for a period of time determined by practice. Remove the parts, allow the sawdust to dry and then blow it off of the finished parts. The same impregnated sawdust can be used over and over.
Some artists and metal finishers use the scratch brush technique, which is to scratch the solution into the surface of the metal with a scratch brush or other such tool until a patina develops. This method can be varied by using different mediums to do the scratching. Heating the part to a high temperature, and then scratching or rubbing the solution into the surface of the heated metal is yet another variation. Care should be taken if using this method, as the solution will splatter and fumes will be generated which should not be breathed. Wear protective clothing, eye protection and a chemical respirator to avoid breathing the fumes.
If time is not a paramount consideration, the vapor method results in a very natural and durable patina. First construct an airtight container, with lid, large enough to hold your parts. Leave enough room at the bottom for one or two inches of solution, without the parts touching this solution. Suspend these parts above the solution, replace the lid and place in a warm area so the patina solution will start to evaporate, forming a chemical atmosphere. Allow the parts to remain in the vapors of the patina solution until a beautiful patina develops.
Application on Metallic Glazes
All three of these Patina Solutions can be used on top of our Metallic Glazes to produce patina effects. Once again, you may uses any method that allows the Patina Solution to come into contact with the metallic coating. As a general rule, the Patina Solution is applied to the metallic coating on top of the final coat of coating, while that final coat is still damp.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves,
eye protection and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a
chemical respirator when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary Use
Application Method
Rainbow Patina only works on copper, brass, bronze and other copper alloys. It will not work on our Metallic Glazes. Immersion is the recommended method of application. For an even finish, clean the metal of all dirt, oil and previous tarnish. When used as an immersion solution, Rainbow Patina follows a predictable pattern of color change regulated by the amount of time the part is immersed. The colors are different for each alloy of metal, but generally follow this pattern, light brown, darker browns, grays, steel gray/blue, purples, and finally blue/blacks. Rainbow Patina may also be applied in many other fashions such as spraying, rubbing, pooling, etc. These methods are best used for general, uneven antique and tarnish effects. Interesting effects are produced with these methods, but much more practice and artistic ability is required to achieve specific color changes.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection and
avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator when
spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250
Primary use
Secondary use
Application Method
This is a latex glaze based coating and may be applied like any other latex paint. First clean and prime the surface to be coated. Allow the primer to dry. Next apply the first coat of MetalGlaze™ using a brush, roller, sponge, spray, or any other method. The first coat should be fairly thin. Allow this to dry from four to twenty-four hours or until cured. Additional thin coats may be applied as desired. Allow each coat to cure before applying another coat, or the coating may become elastic. If you wish to patina areas of the coated surface, the Patina Solution should be applied when the final coat is still damp, and only to the areas that you wish for a color change to occur. Depending on the surface coated and the amount of Patina Solution used, a color change should begin to form in about ten minutes.
Because these glazes all contain real copper and copper alloys, they may be blended together to create custom colors. They are also very versatile when used in layers as with most faux finish techniques. Different layers may or may not be treated with a Patina Solution. Our MetalGlazes™ can be thinned either with water, or with one of the Patina Solutions for use as a wash over faux finishes, or as a stain on bare wood. This is an easy and attractive way to produce unique and antique finishes on wood and other porous surfaces.
Though not recommended, if using MetalGlaze™ on top of steel, the steel must first be painted with a very durable, rust preventative primer. This is especially important if you are also using one of the Patina Solutions to patina the glaze. The most common problem encountered when using our glazes on steel is that the steel tends to rust underneath the coating. This causes the coating to peel in these areas.
Technical Data
Shelf life one year if properly sealed.
Coverage is 250 to 450 square feet, depending upon surface and thickness of the coat.
Do not use below 50 degrees or above 120 degrees.
Primary Use
VOC under 250
Miscellaneous Products
ReactArrest™
(Neutralizing Solution) Top
Application Method
Finished parts may be dipped in ReactArrest™ or sprayed with ReactArrest™. Allow solution to remain on the parts for several seconds before rinsing with water. Should be used when using our EasyPlate™, EasyRust™, EasyTorch™, EasyBlue™, Antique Pewter, Antique Black, or Antique Red/Brown.
Technical Data
As with all chemicals, wear protective clothing, latex gloves, eye protection
and avoid breathing mist. Use adequate ventilation with a chemical respirator
when spraying. No known shelf life.
VOC is under 250.
Primary Use
Secondary Use
Application Method
Parts may be dipped or brushed, but spraying is the recommended method of application. If thinning is required, thin with xylene, clean tools with xylene or acetone. Dried paint may be removed with acetone. Will not withstand some solvents. When applying, use adequate ventilation and do not breathe fumes for a prolonged period of time. Two or more thin coats are superior to one thick coat. Allow each coat to completely dry before applying the next coat.
Technical Data
Shelf life one year if properly sealed.
Coverage is 300 to 600 square feet, depending upon surface and thickness of the coat.
Do not use below 50 degrees or above 110 degrees.
VOC is 489 to 529.