"Brushed" aluminum look on regular alu. plate??

[rabiddog22]

I just finished making several trim pieces for my car's interior out of 1/8 inch aluminum plate. While the "Regular" plate looks adequate, I want that silvery, grey'ish, Brushed look for my panels. I have heard that there is a certain color of anodise that will do this.

So, my question is, if this is true, what color is it? OR, is there another way of giving it this look?


Thanks!

-Rabid

[mcaswell]

Give the aluminum a brushed look before anodizing. The surface of the aluminum dictates the end result.

[rabiddog22]

Uuuh, yeah, I knew that. What I was asking was "how do I make it looked brushed?" with a color of anodise? or whatever else....... I don't want to anodise if I don't have to. I already have a copy chrome and nickel kit.

[mcaswell]

I see. I thought you wanted to anodize it.

You give it a brushed look by polishing it with a wheel like our brightex wheel. You can then plate it with Copy Chrome. It won't look shiny, it will look like a brushed aluminum finish.

The surface of the metal before you plate (or anodize) dictates the end result. Polished parts in come out shiny. Dull/brushed parts in come out dull.

[rabiddog22]

Great! I have a copy chrome kit already on order. Talk about timing. So should I polish it *EXTREMELY SHINY* or just barely shiny, then plate it? Your reply got me confused at the end there.....

-Rabid

[mcaswell]

Here's a breakdown of the steps:

1. Polish with the brightex wheel. (http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/brightex.htm) This will leave the part with a brushed finish. It won't look shiny at all.

2. Zincate (to remove and prevent re-formation of oxide layer that will prevent plating)

3. Plate with Copy Chrome (or nickel) plating kit.

Because the finish on your part before you plate it is a flat/brushed finish, the finished plated part will also have a brushed finish.

[rabiddog22]

Thanks! Got a link to the zincate?


-Rabid

[mcaswell]

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/zincate.htm