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How durable is the finish on sandblasted aluminum?

Q. I design and build analog effects units for musicians, and am experimenting with different finishes for aluminum enclosures. I know it's unusual to consider sandblasted aluminum as a final finish, but I like the matte gray effect generated, and I think it would look good with some cleanly etched labels.

My question: does this matte gray look have any longevity? It doesn't need to be as tough as anodized / powder coated aluminum, but if it's going to look shoddy after a few scuffs then I won't bother getting a few test enclosures blasted.

If I do try it out I'll post results here after a few months!

Thanks in advance,
Oscar

Oscar Walsh
- Melbourne, Australia
June 2, 2021

A. Hi Oscar. You can anodize that sandblasted aluminum without changing the look very much. You may be able to chromate conversion coat it (Alodine, Iridite) or apply a matte lacquer without changing it much. But I don't think raw aluminum will remain unchanged very long in in an ideal environment.

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2021

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