Brushed aluminium effect?

[$loth]

How do you get this type of effect on cases like you see on the lian li range?

Is it from wet sanding or another method?

[Spawn-Inc]

i'm not 100% sure but i believe you use a low grit sand paper like 240 grit and run it in a straght line. if you have a belt sander i think that would be the fastest.

[tybrenis]

You'll want lower grit than that. Try like 60 or 80.

Also, they maked brushed aluminum vinyl that you could apply. They use it for faux decorations in kitchens etc. Check out some local home improvement stores and such for that sort of stuff.

[jdbnsn]

Creating a brushed appearance in metal is an art form. It is not easy to do with clean results, especially on larger surfaces like a case. You can use any abrasive tool that is strong enough to scrape the surface, like the sandpaper Tybrenis mentioned, or metal brushes with very rigid bristles, etc... I used sandpaper on a sheet of stainless steel (surgical table grade) and it was a chore. The toughest part is making your pattern look good, using a belt sander gives you rectangular patches and uneven dips, hand sanding gives you curves no matter how hard you try. Aluminum should be easier though, and I would recommend building a jig to fixate your metal and use some make-shift guide to keep your sanding motion straight.

[rendermandan]

anybody know how its done professionaly?

[jdbnsn]

I know of one way flat sheets are done, and it is indeed a large belt sander style machine. As for rounded pieces, not sure.

[b4i7]

i believe you would be able to do any type surface if you had a drill with a wire brush wheel on it

just run th drill sideways along the surface so that it causes the brush effect

post 666 :D

[jdbnsn]

You can certainly do that and it would probably work good for aluminum, didn't cut so well with the stainless. The problem is trying to get an even smooth looking pattern, just takes patience. I would like to know how people protet a brushed surface after the texture is done. Seems like when I tried this, it came out looking okay but very easily showed every thumb print, knick, etc... I tried giving it a clear coat and it didn't help much, but if you think of those brushed faucets you can abuse those surfaces with little evidence.

[Crimson Sky]

Here are the machines (http://www.noktametal.com/satinajmakinasieng.htm) that put brushed finishes on alum prior to anodizing or clear coating.

[$loth]

Interesting, jdbnsn thanks for the mention of creating a jig to keep the sanding straight.

If you sanded alu to get a brushed effect could you then paint it? AFAIK you can only anodize it.

[b4i7]

yeah...stainless would be a ton harder to do...as its a harder metal...even machine work is a pain with stainless