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Aluminum panel van finish tip

Hello, I am attempting to finish my aluminum delivery van with some creativity. I have scuff sanded the 18 foot length of raw aluminum with standard 120 grit sandpaper, making very orderly 3" horizontal lines across it. I then sandblasted my company name and info into the aluminum. Looks great so far. Now the real problem. I would like it to go a little darker, and remain semi even. Currently it will change color if you so much as look at it. I am on a budget, and do not mind having to do occasional maintenance. There is another issue. My company logo has always been a cut out of copper. I have made these copper pieces and would like to attach them with glue or pop rivets, but I do not want the metals to fight each other. Will a Self-etching primer ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] in between the two be sufficient? Would stainless rivets mediate well with the conflicting metals? I appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Jacob Flory
B.D.Mack custom bars - Portland, Oregon, USA
2007

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I've heard it rains in Portland. Even the runoff from copper will destroy lower aluminum panels.

Choice 1. Cut your logo out of self-adhesive colored vinyl.

Choice 2. Fabricate your logo in aluminum sheet, drill some holes, then have it & some aluminum rivets anodized & dyed a deep shade of Gold 4N. Anodizers have color charts, and another dye may initially match copper better, but Gold 4N (ferric ammonium oxalate) is UV resistant. Try to use Al 1100 sheet & rivets -- purer aluminum grades resist corrosion better.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2007