Brushed Aluminum?

[kosPap]

hello!

this time I need your leads on making the bare aluminum body of the flashlight brushed like. (after the de-anoodization)

I am not partial to polished aluminum and the flashlighthas also some nasty scars, so maybe a matte brushed look will be better to my liking too.

I am thinking about tuning the flashlight in my hand that has soem abrasive media like sandpaper or paste...

Available materilas are
Wet Sandpaper up to 2000 grit
Dremel polishing paste (it comes in the kit)
3M car body/paint polishing paste (coarse)
engine valve polishing compound (grease with abrasive media) both fien and coarse
Various dremel polishing disks, felts etc....

and I would better stick with them and not buy more...not that there are more found locally (here in Greece)

So what do I do?

 

[737mechanic]

I usally use scotch-bright pads and that gives a really nice finish. I would think the 2000 grit sandpaper would give a nice result also. If there is anyway you can chuck it up in a drill or some other turning device then it will be a lot less work.

 

[65535]

Simple scotch bright is the way to go, just grab a scotch bright sponge or pad and twist the flashlight in it. A little soapy water is good to keep it clean and flushed from particles.

 

[PhotonFanatic]

A brushed surface finish using either sandpaper or ScotchBrite is quite easy to obtain, but you must realize that the surface will immediately show any sign of contact with any metal. And those blemishes will be very visible, very soon. :devil:

In other words, it will look great--if you put it on the shelf as soon as you've finished it. I'd suggest that polishing it would be better.

 

[kosPap]

hmm Indeed...and thankfully is an experiment and showpiece...

it will have a pilot reconstruction inside..have done the fitting and tomorrow will be soldering iron day...

BUT..what kind or scotchbrites you are refering too?
the green dishwashing pads or the metal wire ones? not all the range is available here in greece....