Patina & Paint
Some of our products are made from raw steel and are intentionally designed to develop a natural rust patina when left unfinished. The gray surface you see is the steel’s natural mill scale, which can vary in tone and appearance. Once exposed to the elements, the steel will gradually weather into a warm, brown patina, with the timing varying by climate and environment. This natural rusting will not affect the product’s performance. If you prefer to maintain the raw steel appearance or add a painted finish, see our sealing and painting instructions below.
To encourage the natural patina process, simply spray your item with plain water regularly. While certain additives can speed up rusting, they may be too acidic and harsh on the steel. For the best results, we recommend allowing the finish to develop naturally using water and exposure to the elements.
If you’d like to preserve the raw steel appearance and slow the natural rusting process, we recommend sealing your product as soon as you receive it. Keep in mind that a clear coat will delay rusting, but will not prevent it permanently, especially when the product is exposed to outdoor conditions.
You’ll need acetone, clean rags, maroon Scotch-Brite™ pads, and a clear satin protective spray such as Krylon or Rust-Oleum.
- Clean the steel. Thoroughly wipe down the entire product with acetone, removing all grease, fingerprints, oils, and residue. Continue until your rag comes away clean.
- Prep the surface. Using a maroon Scotch-Brite pad, lightly (as to not scratch the surface) rub the steel in one consistent direction. This creates a more uniform surface and helps the clear coat adhere properly.
- Clean again. Wipe the product down once more with acetone, making sure the entire surface is clean and free of dust or residue.
- Apply the clear coat. Spray light, even coats over the entire product, including the front, back, edges, and hard-to-reach areas. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and drying time, applying 2–3 coats for best results. For laser-cut products, pay extra attention around numbers and lettering where exposed steel can easily be missed.
- Allow to fully dry. Once the protective finish has completely cured according to the manufacturer’s instructions, your product is ready to install!
If you’d like to customize your raw steel product with a painted finish, proper surface preparation is key to achieving a smooth, durable result.
You’ll need acetone, clean rags, maroon Scotch-Brite™ pads, metal primer, and your paint of choice.
- Clean the steel. If your raw steel product has formed already minimul rust, you will need to lightly scrub it off with sandpaper. Thoroughly wipe down the entire product with acetone to remove grease, fingerprints, oils, and residue. Continue until your rag comes away clean.
- Prep the surface. Using a maroon Scotch-Brite pad, lightly rub the steel in one consistent direction. This prepares the surface and helps the primer adhere properly.
- Clean again. Wipe the product down once more with acetone, making sure the surface is completely clean and free of dust or residue.
- Apply the primer. Spray light, even coats over the entire surface. Follow the primer manufacturer’s instructions for application, drying time, and additional coats.
- Apply the paint. Once the primer is ready, apply your paint in light, even coats, following the manufacturer’s instructions for drying and recoating.
- Allow to fully dry. Once the paint has completely dried and cured according to the manufacturer’s instructions, your product is ready to install!
For a quick walkthrough, watch our video on prepping and painting a raw steel handrail below.
