Originally Posted by lunacycle
Better yet, strip it down to the bare metal, then scrub it with vinegar, lemon juice, or some other mild acid solution. Leave it on for a while then rinse clean. Really interesting yellow/green/brown patinas will form. Rub the surface rust off with a dry cloth before clear coating.
I used to do this with my metal sculpture. However, I was using muriatic acid (the stuff you use to etch concrete). It's pretty nasty.
Then why not go all the way and let the surface rust in that random fashion, and preserve that? It would give it a "Fallout" look (if you know the game). I have seen computer cases painted in that style, and it's really cool. I didn't like it at first but then it grew on me. And I am now seriously thinking about it for my beater.I'm just not sure how to "fix" that layer of rust down, protect it effectively.