Guide your brushing techniques!

hey!

im looking for a collection of brushing techniques. I want to brush the aluminum of my 100% custom case, as no paint i could find matched the quality i was looking for.

So let me hear your opinions! like for instance, 120 grit then clear coat, 220 in diagonals, et cetera.

and if anybody knows of some cool guides please, let me know!

thanks in advace

 

i just use my sonicare first on the upper teeth, then on the bottom, paying particular attention to the spaces in-between the teeth.

 

lol!
sorry if i was vague(i know your jokign) im talkign about gettign a brushed look on aluminum

 

yeah i know lol, i've always just sanded with a block of wood and some fine paper (220 or maybe the 300 one, 340? 360?) in one direction only. don't cross-hatch or it looks like crap. i don't clear coat but i'm not afraid of battle scars on my gear

 

I always just used a wire wheel with a drill. -Of course, my stuff looked like sh*t.

 

There's a guide in the how-tos somewhere

 

IIRC ther was one on the project log of the guy who made the projector
Found the link Its less than I thought there was but there are some good tips.

 

ah thanks spacecowboy! thats a good one

 

did you floss beforehand?

 

HA! maybe if I had gold fronts or something...

 

i think its called grills

also, dont forget mouthwash!

 

Am experimenting with a rad grill for my brushed silver case.
If I get anything good I'll tell you.
Had the idea of polishing then sanding in one direction. Just waiting for the rough aluminium polish that's used on truck parts.

 

I tried belt sanding, and i got really course sanding, and really shiny! its cool it looks kinda like what jedda was talking about....

 

just be careful with the power tools, shiny doesn't always mean smooth, it could be shiny but filled with small gouges that will take forever to remove

 

man I would not like to have gouges and cracks in my gold fronts. I am thinking back to the good ol toothbrush.

 

one of these things @80-120grit, then hand sand @180-200grit just to smooth it out before clearcoating (alu will oxidize if you don't clearcoat quickly)

 

supertoad has got it, brushed aluminum is really "sanded in one direction" aluminum if the piece is flat and smooth, you can tape or glue sandpaper (around 200 grit) to a piece of glass then push the whole panel back and forth in one direction, belt sanders work quite well for this effect too

 

Yea man. I've got some aluminum in my garage I'll try some stuff out and tell you what works best.