How to weather your Number 3 MKI grenade

the.rebel.agent

the.rebel.agent

Sr Member
My intention here is to start this thread to collect information about the best way to weather the new grenades Russ & Company are doing as well that one you have stored there.

I posted this which is a nice collection of photos from varios sources:
http://www.crazyoldwizards.com.ar/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=74

These ones are from Rebel Scum:
As first built:
http://www.rebelscum.com/mrobiwananhsaberasbuilt.asp

Time weathered:
http://www.rebelscum.com/mrobiwananhweathered.asp

I have no experience in this but I am willing to learn. Any more photos or ideas will be welcome.:thumbsup
 
For the last few weeks I've been weathering my Parks.

Here's a list of steps I took.

  • Bashed the frag body with a hammer, running the head along the edges of the 'cubes' to soften them - then a rub over with a dremel fitted with a grinding wheel - watch the sparks!
  • Soaked the whole grenade in Coke.
  • Soaked the grenade in red wine.
  • Soaked the grenade in a bath of salt. I used a lot of salt, a mixture of table salt, and the large crystal salt used in dishwashers.
  • Then baked in the oven for an hour.
  • Left outside in the rain, to dry in the sun.
  • Soaked in a sand and salt bath, then put into the freezer for the night.
Just keep going at it until you get the result you're after.
I'll post pics tomorrow.
 
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Howard said:
For the last few weeks I've been weathering my Parks.

Here's a list of steps I took.

  • Bashed the frag body with a hammer, running the head along the edges of the 'cubes' to soften them - then a rub over with a dremel fitted with a grinding wheel - watch the sparks!
  • Soaked the whole grenade in Cokes.
  • Soaked the grenade in red wine.
  • Soaked the grenade in a bath of salt. I used a lot of salt, a mixture of table salt, and the large crystal salt used in dishwashers.
  • Then baked in the oven for an hour.
  • Left outside in the rain, to dry in the sun.
  • Soaked in a sand and salt bath, then put into the freezer for the night.
Just keep going at it until you get the result you're after.
I'll post pics tomorrow.
Click to expand...

How long did you soak in the cokes and wine?
 
Lord_Gita said:
How long did you soak in the cokes and wine?
Click to expand...

Sorry - the Coke for an afternoon - the wine for a day.
My wife wasn't very happy, it was a couple of glasses from her best Shiraz - prefer Merlot myself. :D

Oh - and the Coke was full fat - not diet, zero, lemon and whatever other types are on the market.
 
Might as well post Laszlo's Chen grenade. Poor guy had to sell it, but it was an amazing project--burnished with a hammer (not just bashed but rubbed!), blowtorched, set out in the London fog for months, etc.

obigrenlaszloweathly1.jpg
 
Yeah! That looks great.

I'd really love to see pictures to accompany these suggestions. That way, I know approximately what kind of a result I'll be getting from each particular method. Can't wait to see yours, Howard!
 
These things are crazy-easy to weather.

Beat it with a hammer or roll it down the driveway a couple times. Rub it with steel wool. Mist it with regular white vinegar. Let it sit outside for two weeks (humid or rainy weather is best). Mist it with vengar every day or so and in two weeks, you'll have nice, rusty grenade.

Maybe if I remember, I'll post pics of mine tonight.

-Fred
 
I also really like this one that lesternessman posted. (Howard, I am sure it's a Chen). I wonder if it was gun-blued. Otherwise it has a quality of multiple rusting and cleaning a lot like the 'browning' process used on old guns. Fabulous patina!

grip1cq6su4.jpg
 
Looks like from what I can Google on the subject. The safe way to rust up steel is a mixture of vinegar,salt, water and a little time.

The not so safe way is to use non diluted Hydrochloric acid AKA Muriatic acid. You can get it at most hardware stores for cleaning masonry.

Once I get my grenade I'll be trying out the vinegar salt method first. I'm going to get it to look beat up by throwing it off my second story balcony onto the gravel road below. Maybe I'll drive over it a few times.
 
Serafino said:
I also really like this one that lesternessman posted. (Howard, I am sure it's a Chen). I wonder if it was gun-blued. Otherwise it has a quality of multiple rusting and cleaning a lot like the 'browning' process used on old guns. Fabulous patina!

grip1cq6su4.jpg
Click to expand...

I love that deep black-brown finish on the non-rusted areas. Something like this would be my ideal goal, if I can figure out how to get there. :lol
 
Are we talking about AFBBs here too or should that be a different thread? I wanted to get people's ideas on:

-emitter: chromed vs not chromed vs polished
-grenade: bluing vs powder black coating

I've talked to Serfino and agree with his points...just wanted to get other peoples' thoughts :)
 
Patattack said:
I love that deep black-brown finish on the non-rusted areas. Something like this would be my ideal goal, if I can figure out how to get there. :lol
Click to expand...

I love this weathering as well...everyone says it's easy to do....I'm not that confident in my skills though. Looks fantastic!
 
Here's where mine is at the moment.
I like the pitting, looks like it has spent seventeen years experiencing Tatooine sandstorms.
Click the pics for bigger versions.











The last pic makes the top of the frag cubes look lighter than they are, and the rust too bright.
 
Last edited:
SnDMaN said:
Are we talking about AFBBs here too or should that be a different thread? I wanted to get people's ideas on:

-emitter: chromed vs not chromed vs polished
-grenade: bluing vs powder black coating

I've talked to Serfino and agree with his points...just wanted to get other peoples' thoughts :)
Click to expand...

Well, since this is about "weathering", I imagine it'll be mostly limited to non-AFBB grenades. I'm sure with the wealth of knowledge around here you could get away with starting a new thread to discuss the merits and accuracy of various types of coatings!

Howard, yours looks great! ...But it's not exactly what I'm looking for. It looks like it's been sitting - untouched - for many years. What I love about the one Serafino (via lesternessman) posted is that it looks old and worn, but it's shiny like it's been held regularly to keep that outer surface worn smooth. Does anyone know what might go into achieving a look like that? Serafino mentioned "multiple rusting and cleaning" - do I just need to use the already-posted methods to get a rusty outside, then oil and polish it, and do that a couple times?
 
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Wow, this is driving me crazy, thanks guys to post and share here your experience and what you googled.

Howard, I like how the rust of your grenade looks and the way the cubes/rectangles texture looks. Very very aged...:rolleyes

I will start a new thread about the As first built, cause I want to build one of those too :love

Let the recommendations and photos coming!
 
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