Weathering Aluminum tubing

[b dylan]

I'm building the Picket Boat.

There is aluminum tubing that is used for the steam engine.

I've not worked with aluminum tubing before.

Does anyone have any advice on how to give it a weathered finish; so it doesn't look so shiny?

 

Thanks

[jhearl]

I worked with some sheet aluminum on a model a while back and I sanded it with 400-grit sandpaper to take the shine off. That suited my purposes. If you need it to look even dirtier, you might try adding a thin wash of gray or brown after sanding and then spray it with a matte finish to protect the wash.

 

 

Cheers -

John

[b dylan]

Thanks, John.

I'll give it a try.

[Jolley Roger]

If I remember correctly, you can also dip it into a mixture of ammonia and water, as ammonia reacts with aluminum.

 

Best to test on some scrap pieces first though.

[b dylan]

Thanks,

 

I've tried both of the above methods. They work equally well to adequately remove the sheen.

[jct]

I tried a couple different things (some stained glass chemicals and blacken it, tried vinegar and citric acid as well)  to try to darken and weather the tubing on my picket build but nothing really worked, so I resorted to paint and dry brushing

[Jolley Roger]

Birchwood Casey also have a product available for blackening Aluminum

 

https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Refinishing/Metal-Finishing.aspx

 

 

 

 

[b dylan]

JCT - not sure how I missed your build log - excellent build.

I've sanded  and lightly painted the aluminum pipes - seems to work OK.

I'll keep in mind the Birchwood Casey for the next time

[jct]

THX much B,...I really enjoyed that build, it was fun, have you started a log on your Picket?  If not you should there is a lot of good folks here to support you along the way

J