They are brushed alloy so slightly textured, so will need sanding down first for whatever I go for...
How best to make these look less aluminiumy?
- Thread starter GazHyde
- Start date
Why not give it a mirror finish Gaz and then seal it with lacquer
Mike
Mike
Oh come on Mike, he is not really a hair dresser......
HT awake.
Forgot to update these have arrived, so still looking for suggestions on the best way to transform them. Otherwise I'll just wander down to the local hydro dipping place and see what they say!
I think you have answered your own question mate, hydro graphics gives you lots more options
They will need to be perfectly smooth Gaz, the prep will depend on what the current top coat is, if it is plastic they will need a keyed with a scotchbrite pad, plastic primed and then a couple of coats of high build primer, once dry they will need to be flatted with 500 grit to remove the texture.
I've just done these fog light blanks, they have been done in graphite and will be dipped in carbon tomorrow,
They where textured mate, Its the first bit of my Z that I am dipping
As I recall Gaz has very little hair, Mike @hard top, can't say that I've ever seen a bald hairdresser. Anyway I like the idea of polished aluminium.Oh come on Mike, he is not really a hair dresser......
Mike
Glass bead blasting may be a way to get rid of the alloy texture Gaz.
Tony.
Tony.
Is the texture a problem, or is a colour change just going to be on the cards?
Body coloured might be cool?
Body coloured might be cool?
Don't know how much it might cost, but could you get them covered in matching red leather? That might look nice.
Tony.
The current surface isn't the worst brushed ally surface I've seen, it seems to be very lightly brushed. The bigger problem is that it's really soft and has marked badly around the handbrake area. Not sure what the previous owner did to it...
Have considered and discounted leather already as it's supposedly quite tricky getting the edges rolled thin enough to tuck behind it, but that would have been my preferred solution.
@Rally I've had issues with the vinyl rucking up in places, I'll take a picture later to show you. I think you can by some vinyl primer which should help stop it doing it.
Have considered and discounted leather already as it's supposedly quite tricky getting the edges rolled thin enough to tuck behind it, but that would have been my preferred solution.
@Rally I've had issues with the vinyl rucking up in places, I'll take a picture later to show you. I think you can by some vinyl primer which should help stop it doing it.
Not sure if it's inadequate prep or it just didn't like bonding to the brushed aluminium plate or what. I had also wondered if it's the dash flexing which is causing it. Also where its worst over the air vents gets incredibly hot when they are on, so could be the heat which has contributed.
Either way this was only a temporary test to see if I could tolerate a carbon fibre look which I was going to get hydro dipped on. Turns out I dislike the carbon fibre (as I'd expected) but it still looks 1 million times better than the ally.
Either way this was only a temporary test to see if I could tolerate a carbon fibre look which I was going to get hydro dipped on. Turns out I dislike the carbon fibre (as I'd expected) but it still looks 1 million times better than the ally.