Ageing Aluminum

[Barry Brown]

I thought about putting this in the tech section but does anyone look there? I would like some advice from all you "patination" experts out there on how to age the aluminum skin of my recently built sidecar body so that it resembles the look of this incredible GN/JAP race car I saw at Prescott in 2008. The builder's name is Richard Scaldwell and for those curious the engine is an air cooled circa 1908 J.A.P. aircraft engine and is reportedly very fast.

[Barry Brown]

HERE IS THE SIDECAR BODY THAT WILL BE MATED UP TO A BARN FRESH 1927 HENDERSON.

[Barry Brown]

Here's what one of those English bullet sidecars looks like on a Henderson.

[Barry Brown]

AND ON A BRAND NEW 1932 INDIAN 4 . HERB AND PAT RADMORE, MONTREAL INDIAN AGENT

[rwm]

my canoe looks aged after a few weeks in the water.

[rwm]

http://www.finishing.com/4400-4599/4535.shtml

[Tommo]

Barry,
After I've bead blasted gearbox cases, crankcases, etc I put them into a large preserving pan with at least 12 to 15 lemons cut in half and boil them for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
When removing them you must be very carefull not to touch them as you fingerprint will be on there for ever.
Rinse them in hot water and hang somewhere to dry but as soon as the water disappears and the castings are still hot spray them liberally with WD 40 or something similar.
The WD 40 will be drawn into the pores of the alloy and stops any corrosion or oxidation in the future.
This results in a casting that looks beautifully clean but at the same time aged looking.
Now I'm not saying you boil your sidecar body but it might be worth a try, with a small bit of scrap alloy, of rubbing a cut lemon on it and seeing what happens.
I've always used lemons as we have a tree and there's always plenty about but
I suppose some sort of citric acid could do the same job, I just don't know as I've never tried it.

[Barry Brown]

well we unfortunately have no lemon trees here but sounds like it's worth a try. I am sure Bert Munro would approve! Thanks for the idea.

[Barry Brown]

http://www.finishing.com/4400-4599/4535.shtml

sounds encouraging! Thanks!

[T. Cotten]

Barry!

Since you have such large areas to work with, I suggest a darkening agent that you can then dress back off selectively with 0000 steel wool, allowing you to experiment with technique as you go, to produce a seasoned-but-cleaned appearance.

My choice is available from http://www.jaxchemicals.com/.

Good luck!


....Cotten

[Barry Brown]

Barry!

Since you have such large areas to work with, I suggest a darkening agent that you can then dress back off selectively with 0000 steel wool, allowing you to experiment with technique as you go, to produce a seasoned-but-cleaned appearance.

My choice is available from http://www.jaxchemicals.com/.

Good luck!


....Cotten

sounds good, I will try everything and post pics when done. Have a great holiday!

[Slojo]

Barry what an incredible looking piece of work that thing needs to go on your crazzy hotrod for the aesthetics alone
Joe

[Barry Brown]

Barry what an incredible looking piece of work that thing needs to go on your crazzy hotrod for the aesthetics alone
Joe

I know what you are saying and the thought did cross my mind. All of a sudden I have 2 sidecars and I don't even like the damn things!

[Slojo]

I know what you are saying and the thought did cross my mind. All of a sudden I have 2 sidecars and I don't even like the damn things!

Barry. To funny I know what you mean they can turn a perfectly good motorcycle into an F-250. Hope I have not upset you side car guys out there.
Joe

[Chris Haynes]

Whats wrong with an F 250?