Product finishes

General Maintenance

As with any ironmongery on today’s market there are general maintenance tips that can be used to keep your products at their best. All of our finishes will last for many years to come but, as with anything, the more you look after it the better it looks!

Our products, especially when used externally, will require the occasional oiling of any moving parts so that they perform to their full capability. Oil prior to fitting and periodically afterwards.

To preserve the integrity of your chosen finish lightly oiling the surface as soon as you get or fit your product (not beeswax - see below for beeswax specific care) is recommended and will help prevent any build up of harmful deposits which can drastically shorten the lifespan. We recommend that ironmongery is also wiped with a lightly oiled cloth from time-to-time (not beeswax). This will help remove any build up on the surface and restore it to its original condition.

A 3-in-1 oil would be perfect for all oiling purposes.

Always use the products we recommend for external or internal use, otherwise you may encounter a degradation of the lacquer/wax finish. Our internal finishes aren’t recommended for external use but can still be used, if desired, in an enclosed or protected area, like a porch. You may need to reapply an extra coating of wax (beeswax finish only) or regularly oil other internal only finishes. You may encounter some surface rusting issues if not totally protected. Pages 6 & 7 of this brochure provide the information on which finishes can be used internally or externally and should be consulted before you make any purchase.

All of our products have excellent anti-corrosion properties if maintained to the specific requirements of each individual finish and will last for many years if given just a little regular care.

Screws

The fixings supplied with a number of our products are hand made and therefore a little extra care needs to be taken when fitting. It is always recommended that a pilot hole is drilled (especially into hard woods) for all of our fixings. Ideally it is suggested that you rub the screw with candle wax before fixing.

Please take the utmost care when fixing our screws as a number of products come supplied with fixings which are traditional slotted and, along with requiring a pilot hole, need a well fitting screwdriver.

Please do not fix by way of an impact driver or drill operated screwdriver as the hand-made nature of the fixings can be reasonably soft. If when fitting the screws the head becomes chipped the surface may have a tendancy to rust (touch up paint can be applied if needed - see later in this guide for suitable paint).

All of our screws can be purchased in quantities of 25 to replace lost or damaged screws (see previous page and website for full list and R.R.P.). For some customers a Stainless Steel screw would be preferred to replace existing supplied fixings, which can be purchased in round head or countersunk, various sizes and have a black powder coated head to match existing black ironmongery.

Warnings

The chemicals in wet plaster will rust our products and the moisture in a newly plastered room is phenomenal. Only fit your new ironmongery when you have made sure that all new plaster is fully cured.

We do not recommend using our products in coastal areas as the salt content in the air will rust all finishes. Only stainless steel will not rust in this sort of environment and therefore our products cannot be guaranteed.

Do not use any form of chemical cleaner (e.g. oxalic acid) or aerosol spray as this can break down any finish or lacquer. on the surface of your product. When applying wood finish cover the ironmongery or better still remove. Wood stain may seem harmless but a few drops on un-lacquered brass will do damage.

Beeswax Finish

The beeswax finish is the most authentic finish for steel and to preserve the colours and the texture from the forge, hammer and anvil, we apply pure beeswax. This gives a subtle, matt richness to the metal and offers excellent protection when products are fitted internally and properly maintained. When choosing the Beeswax finish, sometimes because of temperature changes and packaging conditions, your product might have signs of a slight white bloom on opening. We recommend you buff it with a soft cloth, this will restore the finish to it’s intended glory.

However, mild steel or malleable iron, which are the two materials we forge, when fitted in damp bathrooms or wet properties, have the potential to exhibit surface rust. If surface rust does occur rub with 00 grade wire wool and apply maintenance wax with a rag or brush. The maintenance wax will restore the finish and afford protection.

As with all our products all moving parts should be oiled prior to fitting and periodically afterwards so using 3-in-1 oil will be ideal for this purpose. Please note that any oil can break down the wax finish so care must be taken when applying to any Beeswaxed finish product.

Black Finishes

Our Black finish is a quality powder coating which when applied is baked in a high-temperature oven giving it an attractive, durable and corrosion-resistant finish which is very low maintenance. The finish is resistant to moisture which allows products to be used internally in high moisture areas like bathrooms and externally in adverse weather conditions.

To keep the black finish in prime condition we recommend that it is wiped with a lightly oiled cloth as soon as your product has been fitted and also at regular intervals (depending on exposure to moisture) which will help remove harmful deposits and maintain it in its original condition.

Over the years and through extensive use the Black finish can get scratched or chipped from jewelery etc. and through general wear and tear but do not despair, there is a way to protect your product again. We now offer a Black Touch-up Paint for just these circumstances. Easy to apply, completely hardwearing and a perfect match for the Black finish. Can be applied to old products which have some surface damage or to badly fitted screw heads which have the finish chipped off. The product can be bought through our network of registered stockists using product code 73101 but please see the product itself for instructions and uses.

Brass Finishes

All of our brass products are cast from high quality solid brass and have been manufactured to the highest standards. They are un-lacquered and will therefore naturally age through oxidization.

Polished Brass items will need to be maintained at regular intervals if you would like to keep the original quality and finish, especially if being used externally or in high moisture areas (bathrooms etc). A monthly polish will suffice in these situations and will be enough to maintain the quality finish. Alternatively, the brass can be left to age through oxidization and will gain a darkened patina over the years.

Aged Brass is achieved by accelerating the ageing process of the un-lacquered brass then re-polishing. The result is a beautiful finish which hightlights any dark detail on the product. To retain the original finish, regular polishing with a good quality metal polish is essential. However, if the intention is to allow the surface to age through oxidization, no attention needs to be given. Over time the brass will acquire a darker and more aged patina.

Brass Finishes

All of our bronze products are manufactured from unpolished solid bronze which gives a rich, dark bronze colour and distintction that only bronze possesses. The Bronze finish requires no maintenance as with use and oxidization the Bronze will slowly lighten in colour, especially where there is a lot of detail, resulting in a beautiful subtle patina.

Wooden Finishes

We use high quality wood products in the From The Anvil range and they can be kept to these high standards by way of a simple maintenance routine. These products can be polished or waxed which will maintain the vibrancy of the wood and give overall protection. They have been designed to be used internally but can also be used externally if regularly maintained with our Anvil wax.

Other Finishes

For all of our other finishes which do not have a specific mention or list of care instructions we always recommend the same maintenance routine, a 3-in-1 oiling of all moving parts when first purchased and periodically afterwards. This keeps the product working at it’s optimum and to keep the finish in it’s original condition wipe with a slightly oiled cloth when first fitted and at regular times during the product’s lifespan.