Metal Finishing - Brushed/Swirl

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I'm finishing up a firewall for my 41' Willys and I'd like to put a swirl pattern in the metal (see background of attached picts).  How do you create a pattern like that?Thanks in advance for all the help Attached Images
Reply:You don't mention what material the metal is. Being a firewall, and wanting to finish like this, (without rusting) I'm guessing either stainless or aluminum. (The same technique works for steel, just need different materials for some of it.) Here's what you need. Something the diameter of the swirl, and fairly soft. I would likely consider a piece of rubber or maybe leather glued to a wood or metal mandrel (on the end.) The other end of this goes into a portable drill, or if the part's small enough, a drill press can be used. Now what you need is some abrasive. On some of the tools I build (I'm a toolmaker by trade), I use diamond paste, because the parts are hard, and the diamond won't embed into the metal, whereas it would with aluminum. With aluminum, you might even be able to use small pieces of the scotch brite type pads, or cut small circles out of sandpaper. With mild steel I have used loose 'grit' on the end of a pece of soft dowelling (in the drill press where it would stay square to the work.)Use a piece of scrap to experiment with, it takes a bit to figure out, and the pattern can be changed depending on the order you do it in. Hope this gives you enough information to get started.Mark
Reply:Mark, thanks for the help. Hopefully this will get me going in the right direction.  Do you happen to know if there are any ready made tools like this? (might save some time)  BTW... The firewall is stainless, but I have a couple other projects where I used mild steel and it would be useful to do the same so I could do a clear powder coat when they're done.Thanks again,Rich
Reply:Sorry, I don't know of any place where you can buy something like this. (Being a toolmaker, I always have access to lathes and such, so just turn up what I want.) Trying to think of something common that you would likely have around your shop that could be converted......maybe a shoulder bolt with the head ground down to remove the hex? Should be soft enough for the grit to stick to....main thing is to use something softer than the other metal, so the grit embeds in the tool, not the part. Use a slow RPM, a lubricant (light oil, water, varsol works well on aluminum, mind the fumes though) and test out what you come up with.If you know someone with a lathe, maybe you can beg them to turn you up a bit of a selection.Some of the hard plastics (delrin, teflon, etc.) that machine fairly well may also work.Good luck with it, let us know how it turns out.
Reply:When I want the swirl pattern I use a Rol-loc disc by 3M, they come in different grits, sizes and in scotch brite as well. Just use these in the drill at a slow speed. Just my .02.Brett B & B Fabrication and Welding Inc.Spalding, MI.
Reply:Originally Posted by UP BRETTWhen I want the swirl pattern I use a Rol-loc disc by 3M, they come in different grits, sizes and in scotch brite as well. Just use these in the drill at a slow speed. Just my .02.
Reply:I use a dowel w/a punched out circle of emery cloth.I believe the process is called "engine turning" or "jeweling".Some kits hereStudent on a mission.   Be the best. If I can't be the best I sure as hell won't be the worst.
Reply:you can buy the material out of the eastwood catalog in sheet form.  I cant find a catalog right now but Im sure they have a web page.  If you do that by hand for any large section its going to take a long time but the end result is worth the work.  Ive seen the swirl pattern done on a firewall with a red anodized finish and it looked real nice.
Reply:the east wood catalog also has the engine turning tools for sale
Reply:this is the web page I dont know how to post links so you will have to cut and paste  http://www.eastwoodco.com/index.jsp
Reply:Thanks for all the info.... I was playing around with it this afternoon, and had some luck when I used my drill press.   Unfortunately, the firewall is too big for my press so I think I'm going to get some stainless that already has the swirl pattern and re-cut it. It's going to be a pain:-(     I also want to thank weldingman24 for the idea to do and anodized finish... Not sure I'm going to do it on this firewall, but it gave me some cool ideas for later. Thanks again,Rich