By Russell E. Emmons (Russemmons) on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 - 01:53 am:
Mr Bill: Don't you mean red ferric oxide FE3O2? In nature as the ore Hematite, or in hydrated form as the ore Limonite. In pure form, the finely ground powder is sold commercially as jewelers rouge for polishing and as Venetian Red a pigment used in painting barns, freight cars etc., or as a pigment in pottery and rubber. This compound was very inexpensive and quite protective even in the water based mixtures they had back then and thus was the product most commonly used and therefore resulted in the traditional "red" barn.--- Whereas anything then and now with lead in it was comparatively expensive and as we know now and I think known back then, toxic to chewing animals in the barns. "Red lead" paints and primers were used primarily on metals, flashings, gutters and the like for rust proofing right up until the 60s & 70s when any lead based paints were phased out because of the toxic propertys. (Granted tho lead based paints are superior in longevity and protection.)
Many people wonder why there is and was "Barn Paint" opposed to "House Paint" when they are similiar. Barn paints traditionally had & have no lead, or other toxic heavy metals or other chemicals detrimental to animals which typically chew or rub on their surroundings. Barn Paints may also contain certain harmless antifungual or anti mildew agents and still sell at reasonable prices whereas House Paints, until the banning of lead, the issue is (was) on protection, longevity, good coverage and beauty!
It has been said that anyone with an old (before
the 1970s) house, garage, barn or outbuildings should never grow vegetables, berrys etc. (Flowers OK if you don't eat them!) around these buildings since years and years of lead based paints slaking off them, or scraped off, has the ground saturated with lead and will be thus present in the berrys and veggies in sufficient amounts to be harmful!
By Mr. Bill (Mrbill) on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 - 05:10 pm:
Yellow and red ochre (iron oxides) were sold as stir in cement and mortar colorants. Good ole red lead is insoluble, except under acidic conditions, when the toxicity of (soluble) lead salts kicks in.
