[header] How to age aluminum [title] Rough up the surface with sandpaper. [step] If you want a truly distressed and aged look, but are working with shiny, new aluminum, you can sand it down. Use 80-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface of the metal.
[header] How to age aluminum [title] Rough up the surface with sandpaper. [step] If you want a truly distressed and aged look, but are working with shiny, new aluminum, you can sand it down. Use 80-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface of the metal.
[substeps] Use a bit more sandpaper than you need for the piece as you sand. Work with the grain of the metal using short, even strokes to avoid creating ridges in the aluminum. [title] Spray your aluminum with bleach. [step] Wear a mask and protective gloves when working with bleach. [substeps] Sandpaper makes the scratches and crevices less noticeable, and makes them easier to clean. [title] Add a primer or a coating to the aluminum when sanding. At this point, you will need to know if the aluminum is " shiny ". The best sandpaper isn't rough: it's coarse.