Surface finishes

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*Searching here and google yielded very limited results...I am designing a bookshelf for a friend of mine, and we are trying to decide on finish options. We don't want to paint it, because we want the natural properties of the metal to be the focal point of the piece (or something fancy like that...). Does anyone have pictures of different surface finishes? Preferably on mild steel, stainless or aluminum (we are leaning toward aluminum right now, to save on weight since he is in a 2nd floor apartment and we are fat and lazy), but he and the mrs. want to see all of the available options. "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender
Reply:what exactly are you after? typing 'aluminium finishes' into google produces loads of pictures of different finishes  or are you asking about graining it yourself?
Reply:3M makes scotchbrite pads that hook to a drill - this will give you a brushed looks when finished, they're great for blending in welds. If you want to get fancy, you can tape off a checkerboard pattern with masking tape, brush the aluminum in one direction, remove the tape and retape what you've already done and go in the opposite direction for the rest.   It's all going to depend on the "look" your buddy is after. Steel probably wouldn't be a good idea - you have to make sure it is completely sealed with a clear coat or rust will eventually creep in. Aluminum is gonna cost you some bucks!Fire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:How about the semi-circle (crescents) sanded swirl effect you see around the malls and bars nowadays?Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:You can do a search on etching metal with chemicals.                  I am reminded me of something I saw in an interior design magazine: Idiot interior designer took an angle grinder (or more likely paid someone else to do it) to the stainless  steel surface of an expensive refridgerator. Made it look like it had been vandalised.A man who can't weld is as poorly educated as a woman who can't sew
Reply:i've always liked the "random" effect that people do on different metals. just take a die grinder with a flexible sanding disk on it, then let your hand go free on the metal. i like how it always seems to change a little when you switch your posistion, even the slightest bit. it always seems to "glisten" in the sun. the only problem is that it's always able to reflect light into your eyes.later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by aczelleri've always liked the "random" effect that people do on different metals...... it always seems to "glisten" in the sun. the only problem is that it's always able to reflect light into your eyes.
Reply:awesome those are great ideas. I guess I am gonna have to get some scrap and try a few things and see what looks best...and hotrodder, I guess I was too fancy with my search terms! all I could seem to find were text lists of possibilities but no pictures. "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender
Reply:Originally Posted by silkyand hotrodder, I guess I was too fancy with my search terms! all I could seem to find were text lists of possibilities but no pictures.
Reply:i know... i tried that too. i think it was my search string...i said something like "aluminum surface finish" or "aluminum finish technique" or something like that... "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender
Reply:silky, Is this what you are looking for? This is what I did to an aluminum tack box I made.The die grinder has a foam backer with hook & loop made by 3M. Others probably make them too. Held it in one spot to the count of four and moved to the next spot.
Reply:Two more pics. Doug
Reply:If your looking for color finishes you might want to look at this URLhttp://www.metallicfinishes.com/mfspage.htmlI am planning on trying this on some tables I am building.  Haven't completed them or tested the finishes yet.
Reply:Waldarosa - That is one of the effects I was talking about.  Although, when my friend did it, he used rubber wheel, w/o any sand paper on it.  It gives a more polished effect.For deco paint on steel, I really like Hammertones.  The brown, gray and black look good and are very duable.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:i didn't thin about it, but i like the idea of a chemical finish... if you do go AL, why not annodize? i have always liked that colored metal look. my absolute favorite color for metal.. is... well... i don't know. i love the color of Ti, but gunmetal is always a good choice too. you coudl always take a heavy grit paper and scuff up the surface really good, then take a thinned out black paint and coat the bookcase. before it dries, wipe it all off... it'll give a darkened, patina'ed look. if you coudl... i woudl most definatly opt for annodizing though. if you go steel, i'm not sure how it's put on, but i think it's called something like "black chrome". it looks AWESOME!!!!later,Andy
Reply:if you do a textured finish with a sanding disk, be sure to spray over it with a clear-coat.  I've found that fingerprints and other oils ruin the finish pretty fast.
Reply:thanks for all the input!weldarosa - very nice tool box by the way, it looks great. "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender