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How to get Satin Finish on Aluminium Reflectors for LED Lamps

August 27, 2011

We are a company based in India and we are into providing LED Lighting solutions. Sometimes, we need to customize the finish of certain products as per our clients' needs. Most of the LED Lamps and fittings imported from China/Taiwan seem to have a shiny satin finish on aluminium, which we could not achieve yet. We are not sure what process is behind that and have received varying and contradictory information from many local metal finishers. Could someone let us know what process would give us the satin finish we are looking for? Please find image of the finished and unfinished part, attached for your reference.

Thank you.

Suraj Moothedath
Product Designer/ Business Owner - Cochin, Kerala State, India

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Hi.
The part on the left looks like a bead blasted finishing.

SK Cheah
- Penang, Malaysia
First of two simultaneous responses -- August 30, 2011

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- August 31, 2011

Hi Suraj,

The finish you want can be achieved by sand blasting of the aluminum parts. You will have to specify the sand blasting grain size for the desired result. You will have to electropolish the sand blasted parts and then anodize it.
A local dye supplier has introduced chemical sanding for aluminum parts. It gives a similar effect to mechanical sand blasting. These chemically finished parts again have to be electropolished and anodized to achieve the finish satin silver finish that you so desire. I hope this helps.

Winston D'Souza
- Bombay, Maharashtra

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Thank you SK Cheah and Mr.Winston D'Souza for your valuable replies.

Again thanks a lot..!

Suraj Moothedath
- Cochin, Kerala State, India
September 4, 2011