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Creating a dark oil rubbed bronze finish on aluminum

April 6, 2009

I am a graphic designer who wants to create a dark oil rubbed bronze finish on metal for a screw-post portfolio book. Unfortunately, no one makes bronze or brass, or really any other type of metal portfolio outside of aluminum. So I have been considering taking this portfolio:


... and giving it a dark oil rubbed bronze finish, similar to these finishes.

   

Is this even possible on aluminum?
If so, would it significantly thicken the material, so the hinges would no longer function properly?

Should I consider getting it custom made by a metal shop?
Are there any shops that offer either services?

Thank you for taking a look at my question!
Sean

Sean Maisch
Graphic Designer - Savannah, Georgia

Hi, Sean. At least one of these look to me like paint rather than real oil-rubbed bronze, and you can certainly paint aluminum. But yes, you could have a real oil-rubbed bronze finish applied by electroplating the aluminum with copper, and then browning it and selectively relieving it.

The thickness added will be at the very most a couple of thousandths of an inch. I doubt that it will interfere with anything since screw thread hardware is very widely electroplated. good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 2009

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Make a cast aluminum sculpture look like bronze?

Q. I have a beautiful dolphin cast aluminum sculpture that has been weathered. It is now beginning to peel. I would like to refinish this piece to look like a bronze statue, and keep it indoors in the future.

Any recommendations would be appreciated as to how I might go about doing this.

Agnes Becker
Retired - Ormond Beach, Florida
June 2, 2014