To paint brushed aluminum

Duo · 7th October 2007, 08:32 PM

I'm finally around to finishing what has been a prototype amplifier for the last three years.

Part of my job is to get the faceplate painted a nice matte black or even slightly glossy.

It's made of brushed aluminum.

I would like other's suggestions and experiences with doing such a paint job. It's important to me that it coats evenly, looks even, and is very durable.

I tried an initial attempt with black rust paint to see what I'd get and this obviously doesn't work. It crackles off and doesn't coat evenly. It's terrible.

I must find a good primer and quality paint to use.

Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

Conrad Hoffman · 7th October 2007, 09:39 PM

Go to the auto paint and finishing store and get a bottle of the special etch they use for this purpose. Without the proper metal treatment, it's near impossible to get good adhesion and durability.

Duo · 7th October 2007, 09:45 PM

Thank you.

So this must make the aluminum absolutely clean and ready for painting?

Conrad Hoffman · 8th October 2007, 01:53 AM

I think it also give the surface a slight tooth, so the paint will adhere. I had some alloy headlight covers on a Triumph that the factory paint refused to adhere to, but after treating with the right flavor of stuff, the paint is still going strong after 20 years.

planet10 · 8th October 2007, 02:05 AM

Duo,

(1st -- are you in Victoria yet?)

You can get this thing powder coated for about the price of a 1st class spray bomb...

Chris knows where.

dave

Conrad Hoffman · 8th October 2007, 02:29 AM

Yes, yes, powder coat is a wonderful thing!

Duo · 8th October 2007, 04:10 AM

Ohhhh really?

Dave: Is this some place in victoria you're speaking of?

I'll certainly wait if there's a nice place there to get it done professionally.

planet10 · 8th October 2007, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Duo
Dave: Is this some place in victoria you're speaking of?

Yes.

Duo · 8th October 2007, 04:50 AM

Cool.

I'll leave a preliminary plate on there for now and when I get to Victoria, I'll make a new one and have it painted nicely.

AMV8 · 8th October 2007, 11:42 AM

Duo

If your amplifier is aluminium you could also think about anodising.

I have diy anodised my last amplifiers and they look great. I choose diy anodising as I did not want to paint the heat sinks. There are two threads on diy anodising on diyaudio also some sites on Google. If you are interested and can not locate the diyaudio threads please e mail me.

Don

7th October 2007, 08:32 PM	#1
Duo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Earth	To paint brushed aluminum I'm finally around to finishing what has been a prototype amplifier for the last three years. Part of my job is to get the faceplate painted a nice matte black or even slightly glossy. It's made of brushed aluminum. I would like other's suggestions and experiences with doing such a paint job. It's important to me that it coats evenly, looks even, and is very durable. I tried an initial attempt with black rust paint to see what I'd get and this obviously doesn't work. It crackles off and doesn't coat evenly. It's terrible. I must find a good primer and quality paint to use. Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

8th October 2007, 02:05 AM	#5
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 3	Duo, (1st -- are you in Victoria yet?) You can get this thing powder coated for about the price of a 1st class spray bomb... Chris knows where. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi

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7th October 2007, 09:39 PM	#2
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	Go to the auto paint and finishing store and get a bottle of the special etch they use for this purpose. Without the proper metal treatment, it's near impossible to get good adhesion and durability.

7th October 2007, 09:45 PM	#3
Duo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Earth	Thank you. So this must make the aluminum absolutely clean and ready for painting?

8th October 2007, 01:53 AM	#4
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	I think it also give the surface a slight tooth, so the paint will adhere. I had some alloy headlight covers on a Triumph that the factory paint refused to adhere to, but after treating with the right flavor of stuff, the paint is still going strong after 20 years.

8th October 2007, 02:29 AM	#6
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	Yes, yes, powder coat is a wonderful thing!

8th October 2007, 04:10 AM	#7
Duo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Earth	Ohhhh really? Dave: Is this some place in victoria you're speaking of? I'll certainly wait if there's a nice place there to get it done professionally.

8th October 2007, 04:50 AM	#9
Duo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Planet Earth	Cool. I'll leave a preliminary plate on there for now and when I get to Victoria, I'll make a new one and have it painted nicely.

8th October 2007, 11:42 AM	#10
AMV8 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: near london	Duo If your amplifier is aluminium you could also think about anodising. I have diy anodised my last amplifiers and they look great. I choose diy anodising as I did not want to paint the heat sinks. There are two threads on diy anodising on diyaudio also some sites on Google. If you are interested and can not locate the diyaudio threads please e mail me. Don

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