Faking an old cast iron pipe

[DeeJco1]

I know what you're thinking...just buy a real cast iron pipe. Let me explain. I need a shot in which the camera is pointing straight down gliding downward next to an old rusty six or eight inch plumbing pipe. The problem hear is that I need a very long pipe and I need to transport it to the set where it will be propped into place and secured for the duration of the shot then transported off set.

A real plumbing pipe (the black cast iron ones) especially on that's sixteen feet long would probably weigh 500 pounds. So I'm thinking I could buy a sixteen foot PVC pipe which would weigh about 40 pounds and make it look like a rusty old cast iron pipe.

Painting a PVC pipe black is not enough. A cast iron pipe has a texture to it, plus the rusty aspect. So my question is "how do I make a PVC pipe look like a rusty old cast iron plumbing pipe?"

Thanks in advance.

Dave

[MovieTroll]

Check in the painting department of a Home Depot. I am sure they sell ageing kits. I remember my dad got one a few years back to age a wooden coffee table he bought from a yard sell. It came out pretty good. They might have something that looks like rust.

[myswtghst]

You could try playing with styrofoam, or florist's styrofoam to make the kind of crumbly rust-like texture. You also might want to mess with mixing different things of the sort with glue, to make a "textured paste" to create the look.
The other suggestion I'd make is to use lots of different layers and colors of paint, sticking mostly to one color family. An old pipe isn't going to be solid black, it'll have tones of rust and dirt and such.
Hope that helps! :)

[Gopher_Greene]

This is not easy to pull of, remeber quick cheap good, pick any two. You first have to add texture to PVC, it is completly smooth comapared to an old rust pipe. Then I'd paint the whole thing in rust colored paint. Then paint it black, break out the sand paper next, get the rust showing through. Then dust it with some brown and grey to give it the final look. This isn't going to happen fast, but will look really authentic.

[DeeJco1]

How do you recommend adding the texture? Would the foam from one of those cans of spray foam used to seal up holes be good. I figure I can spray some on the pipe then spread it around with a brush. What'd you think?

Dave

[GenJerDan]

You should be able to find long foam tubes (probably split down one side, but you can hide that) used for insulating copper pipe.

Paint that...it's already textured. DON'T use paint you need paint-thinner to remove...it'll "melt" the foam. Find a water-based paint.

Alternatively, paint the pvc with grill paint. It's kinda rough looking.

But you'll be out there with a hair dryer for a longass time...grill paint needs to be heated to cure.

Then a light spray of rust colored paint, and you should be done.

[ChuckS]

I'm more of a digital effects guy, but here's a thought...

Could you use an old cast iron pipe for about four or five feet, where its in focus and the camera can see the texture etc, and then painted PVC pipe the rest of the way?

[DeeJco1]

I got to stay with the pipe all the way down. So the pipe will be in focus as the camera descends. Which brings me to the next problem. I wanted the pipe to develop a crack mid-way down unleashing a pressurized stream of hot steam, which the camera must then descend through.

It's to set a creepy mood and atmosphere for later events.

Dave

[J Michael]

The grill paint might do the trick for the texture. If not enough, try some fine sand while the paint is wet and then re-spray. You might use some orange chalk to simulate the rust and overspray with a clear flat lacquer. Starting to sound heavy.

[DeeJco1]

What do you mean by -the grill paint.- is that some kind of thick paint?

Dave

[GenJerDan]

It's a fairly thick black paint used for outdoor gas or charcoal grills. The cast iron kind, not the sheet metal kind. Usually a spray, but I think they make brush-on. It usually comes out textured, a little rough. But needs to cure in some heat, so a hair dryer, or leave it out in the hot sun for a few days.

Hmmm...there's also a spray paint I've seen that is rubberized, used to coat tools and things to make a better grip. Some versions are also "textured", little bumpies all through it. See if you can find that kind, not the smooth vinyl/rubber.

[DeeJco1]

Thanks guys. You've been a great help. I will definitely try some of these methods.

Dave

[RokMartian]

I didn't see this mentioned but check a craft store, such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby - they have a ton of "faux finishing" and have some stuff to simulate rust.

[Nathyn]

I got one, buy hollow copper pipe and paint it black then when the paint dries scrape it with a quarter.

-Nate

[Independantsolutions]

Dave, I would go to a home improvement store such as Lowes or Home depot and either pick up a few cans of Fleckstone paint (spray can)I believe they have it in a few different colors or get a couple of spray cans of wall texture or orange peel, that will take care of the texture for sure and is pretty inexspensive, might be worth the experimentation. Tom

[Noiz2]

From my theatre days, just add stuff to the paint. Use latex paint and mix in some sand or cornmeal to get a stuccoy texture, you can use brand flakes for a softer more cast iron look. There is also insulating duct paint that has a pretty cast iron texture to it. After you get it looking like an iron pipe, stand it up and start rusting it. Remember if it was vertical in the film the rust is going to run down it and the water is going to create rust streaks. Also a hudson sprayer with washes of dirty colored paint (very thined out with water) sprayed on it will give you a nice aged look.
You may want to do the steam in post to save your camera...
Though as a technical note you wouldn't find steam run in cast iron pipes.

[myswtghst]

We made-up some kids last night to look like they'd been in a fire, and used Special K, the cereal, with liquid latex for texture-it worked out incredibly. I'd suggest looking for cheap alternatives and just playing. Buy some good craft glue, and just mix stuff into it until you get a texture you like. :)

[dustino]

use textured stone-fleck paint in conjunction with regular black/charcoal paint. Then sponge brush some variations of rusty red and yellow tones on top. A little experimentation will be necessary and remember - it's not how good or bad it looks to your eye that matters, but how the camera "sees" it.

[Ed Kishel]

cheapest solution: take a carpenters knife and scrape up the PVC tube with random scratches, scrapes, and pits. Then take some glossy black acrylic paint and throw alot of sand into the can. Shake it up and you instantly have a textured paint. Paint it over the scratches and you should have a pretty old looking metal pipe.

Ed