Disclaimer: Linseed Oil and Polyurethane are flammable so you should not use this as a fire pit, ever again! Don't worry, you will find way more uses for it so you won't want to burn it!
Sometimes you need to go to the pits of hell to make a junk rescue.
Forgive me if I use the word "hell" a lot in this post....I am not trying to be a potty mouth but it has something to do with fire, a pit, and the lengths we sometimes go to get good junk. Sometimes we go through hell to get it, sometimes we say "what the....?" once we get home because either we don't have room or we have absolutely no idea why we grabbed this piece that just five minutes ago had the angels singing.
For this piece of junk, the angels sang when it got nabbed early on trash day morning and put in my car in the fall. Yes, I leave for work early on trash day to go "sidewalk" shopping. I cannot tell you how well my day went after I nabbed this.
Simple joys, I tell ya'.
I was just chomping at the bit to work on it but I figured I better just wait until it was spring/summer so I could actually use it right away. I had visions of a vertical garden or lighting or.....who knows. I was having visions is all I can say with confidence.
So this past week I got to it and I am all giggly in love with the finished product.
So let me lead you to the Mecca of Rusty Restoration! I think I am mixing religions.... all you need is Boiled Linseed Oil and outdoor Poly (I used Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Polyurethane).
Wait for a time period when you are going to have at least 2-3 days of sun.
Start with your rusty piece of goodness
 |
Yes, I saved the lid too...you never know Do not scrape the rust unless there are large obvious flaking. 
If you want to use this indoors, you can just Poly right now and it will look more like this finish, just a bit darker.
Using a chip brush, apply your Linseed oil on all surfaces; front, back and edges to seal the rust. Let dry in the sun until completely dry to the touch. Mine only took about a day.
  Once dry, turn over and finish polying the other side, don't forget the sides. I used Satin because I still wanted it to be rustic. If I wanted new, I'd a bought me one at the local Targey, right. Don't buy new when you can re-purpose is my mantra. (I think I have now added Hindu)  Now the only difficult thing is figuring out which way you are going to use it....  
I really want to figure out how to make it into a hanging light fixture for my kitchen. I will keep you updated on that one. Hopefully I won't be saying "what the...". I have a feeling I am going to need all the help from above when I attempt that bad boy.
I think the top is going to be made into that vertical garden I had originally had visions about.
It is already oiled and sealed and ready to go... let the singing begin!
|
Please see the link party page to see where I link arms with those blissfully beautiful bloggers that host every week. So gracious they are along with these other sweet ladies!
Read more at http://diyshowoff.com/2013/04/01/that-diy-party-10/#xgMAcRCgRocl5vmh.99 
As good as new!
ReplyDeleteWOW! So awesome...I might have passed something up like this at a thrift store or yard sale. Now I am going to snatch one up if I ever see one. Can't wait to see how the lid turns out. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! :) You are so creative.
ReplyDeleteSo have to save this. I have a friend who is moving in a month and he has done this to a fire pit he has probably not even had that long :) he is getting rid of it, so I may have to snag it so I can do this with it.
ReplyDeleteGet crackin'!
DeleteTo make it into a hanging fixture for the Kitchen, drill three holes around the rim, buy three hanging lamp kits and some drain pipes. Use the chains from the hanging lamp kits (Rona, Home Depot) to form a "teepee" from your bowl to the ceiling. Combine drain pipes (for an industrial look) into a three way joint, run the wires for the lamps through the pipes and attach the single pipe to the ceiling light box so that the three bulbs sit just over the bowl, you can either attach the chains to the main pipe or just to hooks in the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
DeleteThank you. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! I have had a black hole built-in above my fireplace...you know, the kind made to hold those ginormous bubble tvs? We don't even have a tv in that room! This black hole has been haunting me for years, and you may have just solved my decorating dilemma!!!!! I am forever thankful. Oh, and Joelle, your idea is genius, too. Love it. Grateful beyond measure, jenn
ReplyDeletewow--what a great idea! I think on the pallet table is my favorite--it looks so cool :)
ReplyDeleteI love your creativity, Kim! :)
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get the idea to use linseed oil and poly ? I would have seen it and thought, " Oh, that could be cool." But, linseed oil would have never crossed my mind!
ReplyDeleteGreat work.
~ Christie
Read about Linseed oil a loooong time ago. Then I just googled rust restoration to see if my memory was correct. I added the poly on my own because I wanted it to last.
DeleteFantastic! You are so clever. I have a rusty fish that needs some restoration before he deteriorates away. You've rescued him without even meeting him on a curb. Oh, and that TABLE! OMG I am obsessed!! Did you make it? It's the best pallet makeover I've ever seen.
ReplyDelete