Guys, I have acquired a set of wheels with a brushed center. And I think it is stunning. Now I have started looking at everything that I can brush, lol. Some things are easy, but others would be very challenging.

My next target is my intake plenum, TPI. It is currently polished but I am tired of keeping up with it. The plan is to brush it and get it clear powder coated. The flat parts are pretty easy. Basically need to make a simple jig to get the sand paper to travel in a straight line. The problem areas that I can see would be the transitions from one flat section to another. Anyone have any good tips or tricks?

Here is my plenum now:


And my first attempt at brushing:




And finally the finish on the wheels I am trying to mimic. The wheels have a clear gloss powder coat.

 

From what I have seen on other boards using fine scotch bright pads and WD40 as a lubricant on the metal will produce a nice brushed finish. I have not idea on what to use to keep the "stokes" uniform... Patience?! It will look really nice when your done. make sure to post some more pics.

Is the one piece you have done your tie rod adjuster sleeves?

 

Will do. Yes, good eye, that is a tie rod adjuster I have laying around. I think is was 180 grit sand paper dry that I used.

I think you could create a small jig to keep the strokes long and straight.

 

Well here goes, decided to give it a shot. I attached the sandpaper to a 1x4 and went as straight as possible without a jig. The transitions from one face to another were actually not bad at all, just seemed to work themselves out. Still a lot of work to do, but I'm happy with the progress so far.

 

Neat!

 

That looks really nice man! Are you gonna do anything with the recesses?

 

The plan is to have the plenum clear anodized after the brushing is finished. After that I will repaint the inside of the fins black, which is what they are now.

I will also brush my cast aluminum valve covers to match and have them anodized.

 

Why anodize? Why not just clear coat with wheel paint? Eastwood's Diamond clear? Anodizing isn't a cheap process, and from the parts I have anodized black they seem to show any type of oil (even from skin). Not sure how that works with the clear anodize. Being able to clean and polish, the parts after installation would MIGHT be easier?

Are you gonna do everything you can brushed under the hood? Or is there a contrast theme. Don't your wheels have the polished lips?

 

The thing I like about anodize is it is very clear and thin. Powder looks thick and somewhat dilutes the look of the metal. Example my wheels, here is how they looked before the powder, much better IMO. Looks more industrial.



I have lots of anodized stuff and the only piece i have noticed that is hard to keep clean was a switch plate I had made from anodized plate. Honestly I really question whether that plate was anodized as it looked completely different than any other anodized part I have. Seemed a lot more like a coating. So anyway we'll see I can always powder over the anodize. The anodize should do a really good job of sealing the metal.

I have a local anodizer that is pretty inexpensive. Certainly no more than my local powder place.

Yes my wheels have polished lips.

To be honest, I like the way my engine bay looks now. I guess I am just ready to try something new.

 

Your engine bay looks great! I was just wondering if there was something I was missing on my "knowledge" of anodizing. I agree with clear powder... No way! That stuff is way too thick, and doesn't always lay down even. Keep post more pics of your progress. I'm very interested. I had thought about black and brushed look underhood for mine at one point.

 

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This looks so nice I saved the pic. It is now the benchmark to achieve for my car.

 

Got some more work done. Did my first valve cover and a few other odds and ends. Excuse the smudge on the corner of the valve cover, its just a finger print. Sometimes the camera is more detailed than the eye ball.

 

You need to change the name of the tread to Brushed aluminum... I got it right!

Those look really nice. I have never liked those vc's but those look great!

 

looks really good!

 

pls share on how you did the valve covers - grit, # passes, jig? Thx!

 

Nice work!

 

Yes please! lol

I have to agree, looks pretty darn good. I'd like to do the same on my fab'd alum valve covers. I have done it with 320 on my battery hold downs, but when I clear over them a lot of the brush seems to get filled.

 

First of all the valve covers were already polished. Which made it easier b/c i didn't have to do a lot of prep sanding. All i did was brush over the polished finish with a "coarse" sanding pad/sponge from ACE Hardware. Just need to make sure you keep the pad in motion to avoid start and stop marks. I started and stopped on the side facing the firewall so any start and stop marks would not been seen. But honestly even the firewall side looks pretty darn good.

It would be awesome if you could find a way to spin the valve cover slowly which really would provide a perfect result. I don't have a tool that spins that slowly.

 

So, where do I send my parts to so they can look that good? Really love that look it's great.

 

i just did it with my other hand and the part sitting on the table. i have big hands though and a pretty damn good grip lol

 

Im loving the brushed look... Good Work!
Did you choose to do straight brushed look verse circular brushed look do to shape and difficulty?

 

IMO circular brushing looks good on circular parts and straight brushing looks good on straight parts. That is why I did it that way.

 

yea you got a point was searching google images just now looks more like fish scales straight brushing lookes alot better more industrial look

 

Your attention to detail is incredible!