How do I age aluminum???????

[houdiniguy]

See last post..

Even I did it..


I have no talent and I did this..
Heheheh...

Thanks all.

Dang I love this place.

Tom

 

[DemonSeed]

is the aluminum galvinized?

 

[houdiniguy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NightSeed @ Dec 6 2006, 06:30 AM) [snapback]1372569[/snapback]</div>

is the aluminum galvinized?
[/b]

No galvinized, just shiny. Yuk.

Thoughts?

 

[Vaderman]

A light sanding with scotch brite pads will take the shine down, paint can add a weathering effect. It will, eventually get an anodizing (the equivalent of aluminum tarnishing.) I don't know if any of the chemical tricks work on it though (like on brass and copper) but you might try: Hydrogen Peroxide or bleach.

 

[houdiniguy]

Thanks...

I could always spray water on it?
For a rust effect?

Would a torch do anything??

Thanks..
Tom

 

[Vaderman]

aluminum won't rust, it gets a coating on it that is very hard and dull, essentially an anodized layer. This takes time though. Paint is probably your best option, after dulling with scotch brite. I don't know about a torch, might melt it, what kind of torch? if not too hot it may create a nice black effect...

 

[cheech9898]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(houdiniguy @ Dec 6 2006, 07:03 AM) [snapback]1372580[/snapback]</div>

Thanks...

Would a torch do anything??

[/b]

To get the surface to oxidize with a torch you'ed probably have to use an oxy/acetylene torch. The oxidation point with this method would be close to the melting point and also would aneal the aluminum at the same time.

As long as you don't do anything to seal the aluminum it will surface oxidize on its own slowly over a couple of months

You might be able to simulate the oxidation if your local tap water is 'hard'. Misting it on and letting the water evaporate repeatedly leaving behind the trace amounts of dissolved calcium & magnesium in it would probably give a decent oxided effect.

 

[exoray]

A bleach/water bath will darken it up pretty well...

Say 1 or 2 cups of bleach to one gallon of water and let it soak, proabably the better half of a day or two... Add a good dose of common household salt to the mix and when you remove the part let it air dry and the salt will leave a white residue as well...

Don't know if this is the effect you want but it will look more aged...

 

[bcstanding]

I think the stuff you are looking for is Birchwood-Casey Aluminum Black. Here are pics of my Obi-Wan IV lightsaber. The emitter, grenade, and booster are all aluminum. Put the AB on a cloth and rub it on the metal. The more you rub, the darker it will be (like the booster and the inner ring of the emitter). Or, you can apply several light coats to make it aged but not black (like the grenade and the emitter). The trick is to apply 1 coat, then dunk the part in water, which will seal the AB. You can find it at gunsmith stores.

 

[houdiniguy]

BC Standing, I woe you big time...
The Birchwood-Casey Aluminum Black is amazing.@..

Only $5.99 a bottle. First when applied, nothing then about 30 seconds later...
WOW..@..

The perfect effect...
I will post nefore and after pics in a minute.

Thanks again.
Hey even I did it...

Ha.
Tom

 

[houdiniguy]

Here is before and after plus a screen cap.
Thanks again...

Tom

BEFORE
http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/.&...33;.222.jpg
Before and waaaaay too shiny and clean.
http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/.&.....2.jpg

After
By the way this only took 5 minutes to finish. serious.
[attachmentid=11489]
[attachmentid=11490]
Screen shot of original
http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/....jpg

 

[rmschneider104]

Very cool. That does look like it worked like a champ. Gotta love the quick, affordable, easy solutions.

 

[Boba Debt]

What the frack is that?

 

[prop fan]

it looks like something I wouldnt want my head to be in...

 

[teecrooz]

It looks like a metal collar with shotgun shells pointing toward where your head would be.

 

[deadbolt]

From Saw 3, I love that movie Nice work man. :thumbsup

 

[houdiniguy]

Saw III

"Wanna Play a Game?"

This is the final trap used in the finale in Saw III

Bang.

Thanks for the kind words, I gotta get my Ex to try this on...
Hehehehe...Screen shot of original
http://www.hooverae.com/upload/pics/....jpg

 

[houdiniguy]

Guess what?

Ha. When I put that stuff on earlier, I never washed it off
and the effect has gotten darker as it dried and penetrated into the metal.

Take the earlier pics x 10.

Thanks again for all the help on this.

Woo-Hoo.
Tom

P.S. Ok, who wants to try it on first? Hehehehe...

 

[7-11 Jedi]

Jebus I hope you used deactivated shells on that thing...

...shudder...


Cheers.

Mike

 

[bcstanding]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(houdiniguy @ Dec 6 2006, 04:59 PM) [snapback]1372939[/snapback]</div>

BC Standing, I woe you big time...
The Birchwood-Casey Aluminum Black is amazing.@..

Only $5.99 a bottle. First when applied, nothing then about 30 seconds later...
WOW..@..

The perfect effect...
I will post nefore and after pics in a minute.

Thanks again.
Hey even I did it...

Ha.
Tom
[/b]

Glad I could help. You do want to make sure and dunk it in water at least once though or it could rub off some. Just dunk it though, you don't have to "wash" it.

You've done a great job on that prop. I'm still definitely a novice at weathering, but AB is so easy to use...