How to create a rough finish on a cast iron kettlebell?

[jkn]

Hi all I have a few cast iron kettlebells of various weights; I use them for home fitness and like them a lot for this purpose.

Most of them have a slightly rough finish; a bit like non-smoothed cast iron cookware, although I think there is a paint of some form on top. This finish is my preference; it's important to have a good grip on the handle, and I have a malformed right hand which makes it tricky otherwise.

I have one kettlebell which is not like this; it has a finish a bit like hammerite. I would like to make this like the rest and am wondering how this might be done.

Something like sand (or carborundum powder of the right grade) mixed in with a paint finish (epoxy?) comes to mind; but I would appreciate any alternative suggestions...

Cheers Jon N

[newshound]

Sounds like you want grit-blasting. If you have an air compressor, small guns for spot blasting are not too expensive (eBay, Machine Mart). Do you have any friends in a small engineering works? Garages sometimes have them, specialist painting/coating/electroplating firms almost certainly, some university or other industrial labs?

You might want some thin paint/lacquer to prevent corrosion, or some form of chemical treatment (phosphating, chemical blacking?).

[The Natural Philosopher]

strip and acid etch.

then use a black stove paint if you want

worth stoving in the oven afterwards

[EricP]

Get a length of rope or string and wind it around the handles to make grips.

You can do it in any absorbent material you like,(leather), and to your taste.

When it needs renewing, just bin it and replace.

[fred]

In article , jkn writes

As an alternative, wrapping the handle tightly in self amalgamating tape may help. It is grippy in a non sticky and non dirt attracting way but sticks to itself and kind of conforms to your grip.

The correct method of application it to elongate by approx 30% as you apply it and it will bond to itself. It's not particularly durable though so I'd recommend applying at least 2 good layers and expect to replace in the future:

Useful for many other things too :-)

[Baz]

One method to make the deck of surf boards ruff. Is to sprinkle Sugar on the Wet final coat of epoxy. And when it gets wet, the sugar dissolves and leaves little craters.

Baz