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Aluminum finishing

I am looking for a rustic look for new aluminum gangways. I have heard of a sanded finish, but I am not sure what is involved in the process. The finished product is said to have a coarse texture as if it were lightly sandblasted.

Jon Keiser
- Seattle, Washington

Jon, you could get a similar appearance by chemically etching the aluminum surface. Etching changes the bright surface of the aluminum to a duller frosted finish. By controlling the concentration of the etchant, the temperature and the etching time, varying degrees of frosting can be achieved.

Roy Nuss
Trevose, Pennsylvania, USA

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