Applying a finish to aluminium

[Phil Dart]

A customer was discussing with me what finishes might be applied to a pen turned from aluminum, and I made a couple of suggestions. I also asked another customer whom I know happen to makes from aluminum and he doesn't apply a finish at all.

So come on all you metal heads - is there a need to apply a finish to a metal barreled pen, if so why, and what do you use?

 

[bassethound]

I have made a few from Aluminium but all I have done is buffed them up!












Still not got round to Anodising nd Colouring though

 

[Bill Mooney]

Renaissance wax or microcrystalline wax should keep finger marks from marking the metal & stop it from oxidising thus keeping the shine. It could also be sprayed with clear metal lacquer.

 

[Grump]

I have made dozens and only ever buff them to a desired finish whether that be gloss or semi gloss it is a finish that lasts with care.
The user may want to use a touch of their favourite polish either metal polish or furniture polish is up to them entirely.

 

[Woody]

I to just buff them on a polishing mop with buff soap my son has one I made him 23 years ago and it still shines

 

[silver]

I have used all sorts over the years.

My dad had some stuff called shine seal. It dried up and I binned it because I didn't think k it was any better than solvol autosol.

Having said that if I remember he used to dip the finished blank in to a liquid, can't remember if it was suagar soap.. or caustic soda..

I will have to dig his book out again to see what he used to do.. but that won't be for a while as the shed is going through a bit of a change around and sort out..

 

[Grump]

Caustic soda turns aluminium black and then dissolves the metal, in fact I think any soda does, I stand to be corrected on that.
I believe sugar soap has soda in it to Eamonn.
I wonder why he was dipping? To colour, to dull a shine or maybe it was a home made silver dip which will shine ally goodly.
Interested to see the result of your ads notes, no rush mate but please do keep us informed init?


Have you found em yet?

 

[Penpal]

In the Army it was a daily chore polish the brass no casual undertaking involving stripping the webbing etc blanko, brasso etc why ever would I personally feel obliged to own something that requires restoration besides the car.

The expression go Army might be an easy out on the way to completion but really a pain if it bothers you If it does not okay for you what about the person intended?

There is no Golden Rule involved here damned if you do or dont just a moot point never ending why,if, when,how the same as any pen.

Peter.

 

[silver]

Interested to see the result of your ads notes, no rush mate but please do keep us informed init?
Have you found em yet?

Interesting.... I never really looked at it untill this morning, he used two parts paraffin to one part white spirit.

"Used to help the lubrication between wet and dry 600 paper" was the written word.. So stupid me thought it was something he was using to protect it..

He dipped it in to soapy water to clean the bl@@dy paraffin/white spirit mix off..

Says "ensure the the lubrication fluid is washed off throughly to remove it from the aluminium or it will leave marks when handled"


Shows how much I noticed when he did Ali pens eh..

This was my pencil I did, not done one since.. http://www.penturners.co.uk/turning-pens/1656-short-pencil-aluminium.html

 

[Grump]

Ha Ha, well at least we all know now init?
Thanks for looking, I remember that pencil too.

 

[Penpal]

An obvious conclusion for me is how I finish various metals each one responds best to mostly one product. I have a bag or three of Aussie pennies over the years they used different metals at the mint obvious when I go to polish them, just had an outstanding success used ten products one shone through
I then used a spray laquer to preserve the shine. I used to make numbers of pens in aluminium air guns drilled out the aluminium was powder coated this seems a way to go.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

You could look into powder coating?