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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Artistic metal finishing help needed

I would like to do some artistic brushed metal finishing on aluminum and stainless steel, but have had no luck in finding any good resources from which to learn or get experience in the techniques and finer points of what and HOW to use (other than sanders with discs as a start point) but there must be some kind of resource I can find or get help from. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Norm Stevens
beginning artist - Des Moines, Iowa
2004

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2004

There are different ways to do brushed finishes. As you said, a sanding disc is one way, scotchbrite pads, I've also seen "jeweling"/"engine turning" and bead blasting referred to as a brushed finish.

If you are sure the disc method is what you want to use then it basically comes down to practice. Buy a cheap sheet of metal and start grinding. Check into local metal scrap yards for cheap pieces of metal to practice on...when you're done with them you can just sell them back.

Adjusting the grit of the paper and the pattern you move the sander in are the two main variables(most patterns I've seen seem to be done with 220-400grit). If you have pictures of the exact types of finishes you are looking for then link us to them and we will try to tell you what method to use to achieve those results.

Jason Aube
- Flint, Michigan

Use an angle grinder [on eBay or Amazon] and the secret is to spray the surface of the sheet metal with WD-40 [on eBay or Amazon] don't use the aerosol can use a squirt bottle.

Mike Turner
artist - Tamarac, Florida
2007