
METALLICUM
Wild Rust Activator (Refill)
Reactive activator for re-application or larger projects — for use with Wild Rust Iron or Copper Sets
Reactive ammonia solution that activates and intensifies the controlled oxidation of Wild Rust coatings. Apply on completely dry Wild Rust surface with spalter brush, sponge, or low-pressure spray. Each additional coat deepens the rust (Iron) or verdigris (Copper) effect — giving full creative control over the final aesthetic. Do not dilute.
Price
$69.99
Coverage calculator
Wild Rust activator coverage
0.75 L bottle
Estimate
2 units
Approx. $139.98
Product needed
0.93-1.3 L
Before waste buffer
One 0.75 L bottle covers about 57-81 sq ft for this application.
TDS: 7-10 m2/L for two activator coats
TDS-based estimate only. Substrate condition, texture depth, color choice, and installer technique can change real usage.
Professional-Grade Application Product
This product is part of a multi-step application system that requires proper surface preparation and technique for best results.
Reactive ammonia solution that activates and intensifies the controlled oxidation of Wild Rust coatings. Apply on completely dry Wild Rust surface with spalter brush, sponge, or low-pressure spray. Each additional coat deepens the rust (Iron) or verdigris (Copper) effect — giving full creative control over the final aesthetic. Do not dilute.
Specifications
- Coverage: 7–10 m²/L for 2 coats
- Application: Spalter brush, sponge, or spray
- Appearance: Liquid, green tending to blue
- Density: 1.000 ± 0.05 kg/L
- Dry residue: 5 ± 2%
- Overcoating: 4–6 hours
- Reaction time: 4–6 hours per coat
- Dilution: Do NOT dilute
- Storage: 24 months
- Packaging: 0.75L
Key Features
- Reactive ammonia activator solution for Wild Rust system
- Triggers controlled oxidation — creates authentic rust/verdigris
- Modular: each additional coat intensifies the effect
- Works with both Iron (Corten) and Copper (verdigris) variants
- Apply with spalter brush, sponge, or fine spray
- Do not dilute — use as-is for best results
- Progressive reaction allows precise aesthetic control
- 24-month shelf life
Go to the METALLICUM store page to see available products, sizes, calculators, color options, and related materials.
About this finish
Wild Rust Oxidized Effects
What it is
Wild Rust is a brush-on decorative coating loaded with real metal particles — iron for the Corten steel look, copper for verdigris. The base alone dries matte dark grey; the transformation happens when you apply the Attivatore, a reactive solution that makes those metal particles genuinely oxidize, growing authentic rust or green-blue patina right on your wall. It is real chemistry, not printed texture, so every surface develops its own one-of-a-kind pattern.
Wild Rust Activator (Refill): Refill of the reactive solution that makes the oxidation happen; one bottle works with both Iron and Copper bases. Use it undiluted — each coat deepens the effect through a 4-to-6-hour reaction.
Why choose it
- Real oxidation, not a faux finish — the base contains actual iron or copper aggregates, so the rust and verdigris are genuine and no two surfaces come out identical.
- You control the depth: each Attivatore coat intensifies the effect through a 4-to-6-hour reaction, from a light blush of oxide to full Corten or verdigris, and the Protettivo sealer freezes it exactly where you stopped.
- The look of Corten steel or aged copper on surfaces where metal plate is impractical — one 2.5 L base covers roughly 160-215 sq ft (15-20 m2) in two coats, indoors or out once sealed.
How it’s applied
- 01Start with a clean, sound surface primed with a smooth acrylic primer — not a gritty quartz primer.
- 02Brush or roll on two coats of the metal-loaded base; it goes on matte dark grey, with no rust in sight yet.
- 03Once the base is dry, apply the Attivatore with a brush, sponge, or spray — genuine oxidation develops over the next 4 to 6 hours.
- 04Each additional activator coat deepens the effect, so stop whenever the patina looks right to you.
- 05Let the effect mature for 24 to 48 hours, then seal with two coats of Protettivo — it goes on milky, dries clear, and stops the oxidation exactly where you left it.
Where it works
See genuine oxidation before you commit: order the made-to-order Wild Rust sample board — hand-applied, activated, and sealed in our Dallas studio in your choice of Iron or Copper — for $15, credited back on your next order of $100 or more. Order a sample board
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