Several of our outdoor lamps, urns, outdoor furniture, foot scrapers, etc. are made entirely or partly of cast iron. A durable and heavy material that is stable in all weather conditions. Many of our cast iron products are treated with anti-corrosive oil and/or coated with black matte paint. But, do you really need to treat cast iron for it not to rust? The answer is yes and no…
Unlike steel, cast iron contains high levels of carbon which prevents it from rusting. In contrast, untreated cast iron precipitates an oxide similar to rust. If you once scrape or brush away this oxide, it will not return, and the surface will remain clean.
An alternative to removing the oxide is to let nature take its course. After a few months, the process stops and the cast iron has a fine brown-black surface that is both protective and entertainment-free.
During the process itself, however, you should be careful about where you place your cast iron object, as rainwater is easily stained by the oxide, which can discolor substrates such as wooden floors or stone slabs.
A third alternative is, of course, to use rust-protecting linseed oil or paint to prevent the process from starting.
