Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Cabinets-Speakers => Topic started by: scstill on November 10, 2020, 07:55:07 pm

Title: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: scstill on November 10, 2020, 07:55:07 pm: I have a Hammond aluminum chassis that is going inside a vintage cabinet.
I am looking for thoughts on how to age the chassis so that it looks vintage.
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 11, 2020, 02:43:57 pm: Marry it.
It'll put on some extra weight, stop caring about how it looks, and age 10X faster.

Another upside is that if you accumulate a pile of stuff, eventually it will take half.

OR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUM9QiKl2o&feature=emb_logo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUM9QiKl2o&feature=emb_logo)
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: scstill on November 11, 2020, 04:34:23 pm: Quote from: SILVERGUN on November 11, 2020, 02:43:57 pm
Marry it.
It'll put on some extra weight, stop caring about how it looks, and age 10X faster.

Another upside is that if you accumulate a pile of stuff, eventually it will take half.

OR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUM9QiKl2o&feature=emb_logo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CUM9QiKl2o&feature=emb_logo)

the youtube video is for drywall, is that intended?
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: bmccowan on November 11, 2020, 05:12:39 pm: https://www.wikihow.com/Age-Aluminum (https://www.wikihow.com/Age-Aluminum)
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: ShoemanGB on November 11, 2020, 05:14:03 pm: Silvergun, that was hilarious. Aging Alu is tough. You can try all the standard washes/soaks like vinegar, mustard, bleach, lemon juice, etc. I've experimented with lots of methods having built knives, a flintlock musket and effects pedals. Muriatic acid will work but you'll need to experiment a lot. It's mean stuff. Ferric Chloride is reliable and controllable. Brush or rub it on, let it sit for a short bit and rinse. Repeat as needed. Interesting project for sure.
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: shooter on November 11, 2020, 05:37:03 pm: just heard on radio Michigan man took some leftovers out, threw in the micro-wave, wasn't bright enough to realize that aluminum wrapped food n microwave oven don't mix, no humans damaged, excessive property damage :BangHead:
I'm pretty sure I know how he voted :icon_biggrin:

I've used propane torch, muriatic n a few others, gave up and glued copper foil to the aluminum, then aged the copper
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: SILVERGUN on November 12, 2020, 07:31:03 am: Quote from: scstill on November 11, 2020, 04:34:23 pm
the youtube video is for drywall, is that intended?
No, it should link to this:
&feature=emb_logo
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: scstill on November 12, 2020, 08:17:11 am: Quote from: SILVERGUN on November 12, 2020, 07:31:03 am
Quote from: scstill on November 11, 2020, 04:34:23 pm
the youtube video is for drywall, is that intended?
No, it should link to this:

Thats a better explanation thanks. But not the look I am going for. trying to just get a uniform dull matte look. Like a guitar amp chassis that has been sitting inside the cabinet for 50years. I have successfully used vinegar and vinegar vapor to dull ferrous metals, but its not working on the aluminum. I used acetone to try to remove the hammond factory finish. Still no luck.
Title: Re: How to Age a Shiny Aluminum Chassis
Post by: scstill on December 23, 2020, 03:02:18 pm: Tried bleach (turned brownish), tried vinegar (did nothing);
I ended up using an orbital sander with 3000 added a nice aged look
but shows fingerprints. nothing really gave the old chassis look
Next Time just going to leave it be....
Now its time to build it