Stainless steel

[kurtj]

I have been wondering if using stainless steel rod for lances or spears on metal ( pewter?) figures will have a galvanic reaction with the figure. If it does, would it be so slow as not to be a concern?

Kurt

 

[Henkm]

Considering that you completely cover the ensemble in primer and paints, it is not an issue at all. Galvanic reactions need an external circuit as well as the contacting metals.

 

[kurtj]

the metals would be in contact though, but beneath the primer and paint. In this case would contact with oxygen be the factor? Or is the mere contact of the two metals be enough? I know brass, copper and aluminum would react with stainless steel. I guess I’m overthinking this.

Kurt

 

[Tecumsea]

I would love to think l was going to live long enough to see such problems.. lol

 

[Wayneb]

I'm not sure I want to live that long to see such problems.

 

[kurtj]

To be completely honest, I agree 200 percent. It’s really silly, but it’s one of those things about trying to do things right. I have no doubt that anything I have made will out survive me by 5 minutes. When I did remodeling and repairs on my home over the years, I always made them to withstand a nuclear attack. I would hate to have to remodel some of that stuff. The air would definitely be blue with profanity. But don’t blame me, blame my father.
Kurt

 

[Henkm]

the metals would be in contact though, but beneath the primer and paint. In this case would contact with oxygen be the factor? Or is the mere contact of the two metals be enough? I know brass, copper and aluminum would react with stainless steel. I guess I’m overthinking this.
Kurt

There is no reaction directly between the metals. What happens is that the more noble metals pulls electrons away from the less noble metal. The resulting charge makes it easier for the less noble metal to corrode but the corrosion still needs the presence of water or electrolyte.

 

[kurtj]

Got it.

Kurt

 

[Nap]

Interesting question

Good answers from members as well

Nap

 

[Blind Pew]

I've been using steel rods for years, for different purposes. Mostly as a support rod in a leg etc. I've never once had any adverse reaction in either resin or white metal.

 

[DEL]

After reading this I've become aware of how lacking in finesse my approach is.
Basically I just use anything thats handy, paper clips, any sort of metal rod, broken and blunt drill bits etc.

 

[Ronaldo]

After reading this I've become aware of how lacking in finesse my approach is.
Basically I just use anything thats handy, paper clips, any sort of metal rod, broken and blunt drill bits etc.

Me likewise ,broken drill bits are great for long pining

 

[kurtj]

Del, My go to is usually the large size paperclip or brass rod. I just sort of cringe when I think of a beautiful 54mm lancer with a 4 1/2“ (114.3mm) piece of limp spaghetti used for a lance. Especially if you are trying to keep its diameter to scale and not have it being a battering ram.

I was just thinking ( a very rare and painful experience), maybe I could put a coating of Viagra on it before the primer.

Kurt

 

[Ronaldo]

Del, My go to is usually the large size paperclip or brass rod. I just sort of cringe when I think of a beautiful 54mm lancer with a 4 1/2“ (114.3mm) piece of limp spaghetti used for a lance. Especially if you are trying to keep its diameter to scale and not have it being a battering ram.

I was just thinking ( a very rare and painful experience), maybe I could put a coating of Viagra on it before the primer.

Kurt

Well brass rod will stand you don't need the viagra

On a side note I have had several landcover Defenders over the years and despite the vehicle model first introduced in 1948 they still persisted
on using ferris to non ferris nuts and bolts to the main bodywork right up to its demise I believe 2019 and good bloody riddance to it .
Why did I buy five of these corroding heaps of dung I will never know , one of there best attributes ; let water in and oil out , oh and they introduced a heater that actually worked about 2018 but still the same shitty windscreen wipers and washers of the early decades .

But it was good off road and the best bloody place for it

 

[theBaron]

I've been using brass rod for things like lances or flagstaffs, too. For pinning, I use various things, depending on the project. For instance, when I get Chinese takeout, I salvage the wire handles from the folding containers, and use that for pinning figures. (By the way, those containers are designed to be unfolded and serve as a disposable dish.) I also use brass rod for pins, and some steel and some aluminum wire sold for use in the garden. All different diameters, all for pinning figures of different sizes or scales, and no, I've never had any issues with my metal figures and the metal for pinning. As someone mentioned, the glue and the paints tend to isolate the metals from one another.

Prost!
Brad

 

[DEL]

Del, My go to is usually the large size paperclip or brass rod. I just sort of cringe when I think of a beautiful 54mm lancer with a 4 1/2“ (114.3mm) piece of limp spaghetti used for a lance. Especially if you are trying to keep its diameter to scale and not have it being a battering ram.

Kurt

Kurt this is one of my many modelling bugbears.
It's particularly annoying on busts where the figure carries a pole arm. Some producers simply stick in a piece of brass rod of any gauge that's to hand. Most pole arms had squared off poles and not the perfectly smooth and round brass rods. Even those more spear like had pretty roughly rounded sections of a fairly heavy construction.
Spear type weapons were combat weapons not javelins.