How to age aluminum parts to look ANCIENT.

[old wrench]

Polished, unprotected, aluminum oxidizes pretty quickly all by itself. Through the "natural" process of oxidation it develops a thin outer layer of oxides. The outer layer of oxides serves to protect the underlying aluminum to some extent. Just raising the temperature of aluminum will accelerate the oxidation process.

I don't have a degree in chemistry or metallurgy, but I gained quite a bit of practical experience in the way aluminum oxidizes through my work with vintage motorcycles.

If you have a piece of aluminum (and it doesn't matter if it's a guitar bridge or a motorcycle engine or transmission case), and the piece stays bright and shiny without a weekly polishing, it's coated with "something" to keep it from oxidizing. It could be anodized, plated, clear-coated, etc.

So, . . . . if you want to get that natural "aged" look, which by the way, happens pretty quickly to uncoated or unprotected aluminum, just remove the coating .





Best Regards,
Geo.

 

[stefanhotrod]

Sand it with grey 3M pads for a matte look. That’s enough for alu. You‘ll get a „raw deal“ look that‘s very nice. Check the Bigsby:

 

[knockeduptele]

Vinegar (much nicer to deal with than sulphuric acid)

Big tuppaware box with a lid, put in half a pint and then float a margarine container with the part inside - seal, then look at it in two days and either bin the part or clean it off and put it on the guitar

 

[stefanhotrod]

Vinegar (much nicer to deal with than sulphuric acid)

Big tuppaware box with a lid, put in half a pint and then float a margarine container with the part inside - seal, then look at it in two days and either bin the part or clean it off and put it on the guitar

Works great with nickel but turns alu to black.

 

[knockeduptele]

Works great with nickel but turns alu to black.

well maybe some sanding and six hours in the tank but he did say dark

 

[trev333]

talking Ali.. my latest tele bass has an Ali control plate.... I was too lazy to go down to the SS guy to get a strip, so I used some 2mm Ali sheet I had here to make it.... hand sanded to 2000 and a bit of a polish...

gave it some more polish the other day and the rag came off blackish....

I might make an SS plate.. one day maybe perhaps..

 

[R. Stratenstein]

As recently as the 1880’s, aluminum was considered a precious metal, and difficult to produce. A 9” pyramid of it was used to top the Washington Monument in Washington DC. Musta been cause George liked beer, and they figured that someday beer would come in aluminum cans!?

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/gilded/jb_gilded_monument_3.html

I wonder if it’s coated or it’s just corroding away up there?

 

[nnieman]

"Lonn said: ↑
Muriatic acid FUMES. DO NOT let the acid touch the metal, just the fumes.

what happens when acid touches metal in this case?"

The metal melts, especially the old zinc trem blocks. Found that out the hard way.

The muratic acid works, it just nasty and miserable stuff to work with.
Gloves, goggles, ventilation are a must.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmEmzXbAZXe/

It doesn't quite look like aged nickle or chrome but it take the shine off.
I didn't attempt to drastically age it, I was going for a lightly aged look.



Nathan

 

[perttime]

Works great with nickel but turns alu to black.

Great if you want it black. Right?

 

[eMGee]

Vinegar (much nicer to deal with than sulphuric acid)

Urine will work, too. Don't ask...

 

[schmee]

Aluminum most often turns to white powder. So varnish it and sprinkle baking soda on it! :>)

 

[Newbcaster]

I got this in the mail today so now im running to Hobby lobby to get some plaster or maybe Lowes for some cement. Either way this is happening.

If, and it's a big if that I can get this done, I'm happy to barter this away or sell it for about a hundo, mostly for time and effort. The metal is cheap enough.

Still gonna slightly change the design slightly to avoid the hassles with patent popo.