Clear coating silk screened aluminum?

**MONOLITHLOUD** · 08-31-2009, 04:53 AM

I hope I am posting in the proper forum...
I have silk screened some brushed aluminum with uv ink, the aluminum I intend on bending into boxes, but I can already tell the ink will wear off over time without a clear coat. I need to clear coat these so the ink will be protected. I have thought of using polyurethane but that may not be suitable being these boxes are for guitar effects boxes and it could wear quickly.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good clear coat for this? Can I anodize them, will this remove the ink if I do? Should I use some type of automotive clear coat? I need some thing very durable. Thanks!

**spankey666** · 08-31-2009, 05:37 AM

anodising will remove the ink.
depending on the composition of the ink, car clear coat (in a rattle can) may make the ink run of blur.
you can slilk screen anodise, that will work

**MONOLITHLOUD** · 08-31-2009, 05:49 AM

Thanks for the reply! I figured anodizing would remove the ink and i realize i have done this process backwards, but due to time restraints I have to figure something out very soon. I will try the car clear coat and see if that works. The ink is pretty durable to the touch and seems to hold up to the "fingernail" test but still needs further protection. I tried lightly spraying a tester with some poly and it didnt run. Ill try the car coat and wait for results. Thanks!

**FigureLLC** · 08-31-2009, 11:06 AM

i've successfully used automotive urethane clear and clear powder coating over uv printed substrates.

**MONOLITHLOUD** · 08-31-2009, 01:08 PM

Interesting I figured powder coating would just blister off the ink. Which brand of urethane did you use? Or just any ol auto urethane?

**FigureLLC** · 08-31-2009, 04:35 PM

my experience was uv printing on a powder coated surface. then i tried clear powder top coat, and dupont pla-stic matte clear. both worked fine. the powder darkened the finish slightly than the liquid clear.