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
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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!
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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 
