[Milsurplus] Satin finishing aluminum

Tue, 29 Oct 2002 00:44:52 -0800

We used it out of spray cans to prime raw aluminum in the Air Force in early
70s.  Most paint won't stick to raw aluminum unless it's primed properly.
Extremely toxic in any form.  Better to use Chemfilm, Irridite, etc. and
forget the heavy metals.  Any good carburetor rebuilder will have several
colors available for restoring old Holleys, etc.  I also understand that
there are aluminum compatible paints available nowadays - look at old car
resotration companies like Griot's.  Other can be found on Hemmings web
site.

73s

Don  AD6PB

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sheldon Daitch" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>;
<[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 4:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Satin finishing aluminum

> where was zinc chromite, or chromate, used?
>
> I also thought that gave a greenish-yellow color
> to aluminum.
>
> 73
> Sheldon
> WA4MZZ
>
> [email protected] wrote:
>
> > Al
> > Years ago when working at Microwave Semiconductor Corp. we used a
product
> > called Irrodite to protect aluminum.  A kit came in quart paint style
> > cans as a dry powder.  One was used as a cleaner (caustic?) and the
other
> > was the conversion coating.  The complete kit was mixed and stored in
> > plastic gallon containers, one for each solution.  Used for months until
> > solution was depleted.  I would guess either MacMaster-Carr or a
> > laboratory supply house would have it.  If I have spelled Irrodite
right,
> > a Google search should turn up some information.
> > Regards
> > Jim
> >
> > On Sun, 27 Oct 2002 21:52:32 -0500 Al Klase <[email protected]>
> > writes:
> > > [email protected] wrote:
> > >
> > > > The yellowish aluminum seen in a lot of military stuff is the
> > > result
> > > > of a "chromate conversion coating" but I don't know any more about
> > > it.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Yes, sodium hydroxide will get you a satin finish, but
> > > that's the easy part.  For long life some kind of protective
> > > finish is required.  Most commercial stuff gets a
> > > "conversion coating" of some sort.  I was involve with this
> > > years ago.  After the etch and rinse the work is dunked in a
> > > second solution and rinsed again. This prevents corrosion
> > > and finget printing etc.  There are clear ones as well as
> > > the yellow mentioned above.  Two trade names I know of are
> > > "Alodyne" and "Clear Coat."
> > > The $64 question is where to get the chemicals in small
> > > quantities.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Al
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Al Klase - N3FRQ
> > > [email protected]
> > > Flemington, NJ 08822
> > > Web Page:  http://www.webex.net/~skywaves/home.htm
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