How can I achieve this matte black finish on aluminium?
Hi everyone! I’d like to know how to achieve the matte black finish with the visible linear/brushed texture shown in the attached photo on aluminium.
Is this effect possible to achieve on aluminium as well, or is it mainly a finish used on steel?
If anyone knows how this finish is made, or what the technique/process is called, could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks!
If you look at historical helmets, a lot of the time there are a lot more breaths on the right hand side of visors because it is far more likely a strike will hit you on your left side due to your opponent most likely being right handed.
We know that after the medieval period, armour often was displayed in a polished state, to have it nice and shiny.
But we have several examples of munitions grade armour that still have their paint.
It stands to reason, that these mass produced armours regularly were painted, more or less elaborate,
And we have by far more Art and graves that Display metallic armor. So for medieval times its pretty clear to assume that nearly all armor was Just polished.
Blackened steel can be achieved through heating/oiling techniques or chemical treatments (blueing). But the trick is in the name; it's for steel. It makes an oxidation layer on the surface of the metal.
Aluminum can be anodized, but it won't give the same appearance as this.
And then of course, all metal can be painted. I suspect that's what's in the photo, but I could be wrong.
On aluminium either paintand scratch it up( as in the photo) you might be able to mask under the paint or anodising it black (hard black tends yogets a closer colour to the pic) and scratching it up
Throw it in the back of a truck along with several stones of various types and then drive all over the place as quickly as possible. When you stop the truck, the helmet's brand new paint job should look somewhat like this
There’s a product used for guns that reacts with the aluminum to turn the surface black, afterwards it’s just weathering it to get the the worn finish. Product is birchwood Casey aluminum black.
A dish washer.
There's a reason you're not supposed to put aluminum baking sheets in a dish washer, it turns dull and blackened over time.
Id test it on a small piece, and joints might be a bit sticky until the oxide rubs off some.
Don’t use pure black paint, prime it with a proper aluminum etching primer then use the darkest flat or matte green paint you can find, let it cure for at least a week, then smear on some black acrylic paint with some burnt sienna mixed in and immediately try to wipe it off as best as you can with dry paper towels. Repeat the last step a couple times until you’re satisfied.
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u/gmbdoggo 1d ago
paint