| Search our quarter-million Q&As |
Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989
-----metallized Finish on Aluminum
I have designed and prototyped an aluminum die cast front panel for a product we are developing. The first parts have been produced through a rubber plaster mold process. Our marketing group would like to retain the "ruggedness" and "sturdiness" of the metal and would like a brushed or matte appearance like that seen on stereo equipment. I have tried metal looking powder coats but they do not look natural and plating is expensive and does not provide the desired finish. Any suggestions?
Marc DeFrancesco- Petaluma, California, USA
2003
2003
The brushed appearance you refer to is usually not obtained from powder coating or plating but from applying a sandpaper belt against the parts on a machine sometimes called a "Timesaver". Whether it will produce a scratch finish on a diecasting that is close enough to what you see on rolled and extruded aluminum is a question that experiment will resolve.
However, there is an issue "between the lines" of your inquiry because you seem to imply that no corrosion proofing surface treatment will be conducted--and that doesn't sound completely reasonable to me.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.