Painting Chainmail

Swete · Post by **Swete** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:03 pm

Anyone ever painted chainmail using Rustoleum? I want to get some flat riveted mail, and mild is in my price range, but being in Louisiana, it rusts withing 10 minutes (seriously), so I figured I could rust proof it like I did my Valsgarde helm. I think it looks nice, but would it work for mail? (Of course there would have to be touch ups.)
Me and my paint 'blackened' helm on the left

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:06 pm

I talked to Jess at Pennsic. Apparently she had painted her (flat riveted?) maile with a flat black paint. It rubbed off on the edges but not the sides. Looked a lot like oil blackening but was easier to touch-up. I'm sure she could provide details. I thought it had a good look.

Sean

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:50 am

If you put the paint on heavy it will be gloopy where the rings touche each other. some leaveing voids in the paint.
Over time the rings will rub against each other scratching away and eventualy the paint will flake off most notably where the links move the most.

I would sugest saveingup for stainless.
If you go with paint the mail needs to be very clean shop grim, fingerpints and any dust will effect how the primer and paint bond with the metal.

Eamonn · Post by **Eamonn** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:02 am

Get it powder coated. As long as you don't use any strange colors it's pretty cheap, they can just do yours when they are on a batch of other black things. Angusm0628 on here had that done to his aluminum haubergeon and it looks great. I think it cost him $25. And you can touch it up with spray paint.

Eamonn

Jess · Post by **Jess** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:07 am

I have a mild steel flat ring riveted shirt and aventail and use this on it:

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=40

You can get it at Lowes or Home Depot. Note this is the rust converter, not the normal rustoleum.

Think lots of light coats. I lay it out on cardboard. Spray. Turn it over. Spray. Shake it. Spray. Turn it over. Spray. Repeat. Repeat, until you cover up all the metal. I use about a can and a half on an aventail. 2 1/2 cans on my small mail shirt.

I think initially, it looks too black. But like Sean says, the links tend to rub the finish off at the edges with wear, but not on the majority of the flats. I think that makes it look better. I fight in the aventail about twice a week and at GW and Pennsic. I don't worry about spilling drinking water on it.

IT IS ALMOST NO MAINTENANCE. I maybe touch the aventail up once a year by respraying. The mail shirt gets used less frequently. I have never touched it up in three years.

I have sprayed it directly on rusty mail and on unrusted mail. Works fine either way. If it is really oily now, like mine was initally, put it in the kitchen sink, squirt some palmolive dish liquid on it, and rub it around. Rinse it off in hot water and then let it dry before spraying. I'll try to post some pics so you can see what it looks like.

Jess · Post by **Jess** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:46 am

Above is what it looks like after the edges have been rubbed off.

I'm in the Midrealm red and white here, it has been freshly sprayed about 3 months before this.

Freshly sprayed here.

Swete · Post by **Swete** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:50 am

Thanks Jess!

I think your mail looks fantastic.
I will now consider my options. Of course, if anyone else has anything to say, feel free.

Otto von Teich · Post by **Otto von Teich** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:00 pm

After the primer and paint, you might try a misting of a clear coat sealer. That might make the paint last a tad bit longer.

Jess · Post by **Jess** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:16 pm

I don't really want the rust converter to last longer, but the OP might. I think it looks better once it has worn off a little. It's not that I'm totally into the blackened look, it is just that I'm really not into the rust look and I don't want to put the effort in to keep the mild rust free. Nor do I like all the oily yuk that seems to come with "real" blackening on my fighting garments and my face.

Swete · Post by **Swete** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:23 pm

[quote="Jess"]it is just that I'm really not into the rust look and I don't want to put the effort in to keep the mild rust free. [quote]

That is the main reason I was considering it!

Malcolm MacLachlan · Post by **Malcolm MacLachlan** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:06 pm

Have you thought about gun-blueing it? It might take a little longer to apply than spraypaint but it'll look better and last longer. Just fill up a spray bottle and go to town. It's fairly cheap.

Swete · Post by **Swete** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:09 pm

Malcolm MacLachlan wrote:Have you thought about gun-blueing it? It might take a little longer to apply than spraypaint but it'll look better and last longer. Just fill up a spray bottle and go to town. It's fairly cheap.

But will it last against the abraisive nature of mail?

Malcolm MacLachlan · Post by **Malcolm MacLachlan** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:27 pm

I would think it would last a good bit longer than paint. Helms get blued and look good after a good desk of punishment .