How to make an enclosure look rough as fuck

[DarkAxel]

Hey guys... so for this design we're working on with Schlatte, i'd like to have a die cast aluminium enclosure made looking rough, nasty, corroded etc, you know what i mean, right?

post-apocalyptic and stuff

could you tell us (him), what could work? thanks a bunch!

[Rygot]

There are some craft stores that sell a patina or rusting solution, idk if thats an option.

[mathias]

put it in a rock tumbler.

Or etch it with no pattern applied.

I wouldn't suggest the rust paint if you're looking for a durable finish. even with matte sealer over it, it chips pretty easily in my experience. You can always try it, though?

[AC128]

I had good results by covering an enclosure with copper foil, then using chemicals to create different layers of patina

[in_sherman]

throw it out of the back of your truck. poop on it. mutilate that fucking thing. make it your bitch

[mathias]

More thoughts on this: after you add texture to the die cast metal (sanding, scraping, pitting it, or etching it, or whatever) then you could stain it with a dark die to highlight the scratches and other damage. Then seal it in with matte poly.

And then the other thing to do might be to do a bunch of damage to it as above, but then paint it with a thin layer of some paint. Use steel wool to "sand" through the paint on all edges. Use a chain or bag of nails to chip the paint in lots of places so most of the underlying metal shows through. Highlight the exposed metal with the black dye. then seal the whole thing.

[in_sherman]

find something to oxidize it. try a bunch of different chemicals

[Gone Fission]

Throw the box around in a sack with some old hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches). Poke it with the corners of a Rat pedal -- that's dinged up some of my stuff in the past.

Aluminum itself doesn't oxidize in particularly nasty looking ways. If you want that look without covering it with a rustable material, faux finish will have to occur, at least on color. Etching can get that eaten-away look, though, if that's all you need.

Oh, one thing for gnarly, uneven looking painted surfaces is you can do non-layers (blotches, stripes, holes in an otherwise complete layer) that will go underneath the top layer that help it build up to an un-even, non-smooth surface.

[ryan summit]

bang it up first
then paint it
then sand it
thatll expose the flat and leave the pits with paint
a ball peen will give you bigger spots a chain will be smaller
if you do a few coatsof different color paint youl see the layers
im not sure about oxidizing aluminum but a wash with brown paint should look grimy
also ive never made a pedal, i do this with metal safety doors
for rich people who live in bad neighborhoods but want the "rustic look"
im in this section tryin to solve a cable prob
also if you go with like a bluish green paint in the spots
then a brown it looks like oxidizing copper

[spacelordmother]

Drive around with it tied under your car.

[DarkAxel]

thanks a bunch, yall

me and my flatmate are currently thinking of the best solution (HAHAHAHA), if we happen to do anything to it, i'll post some pictures

of course, the effect isn't even IN EXISTENCE yet

[Jwar]

Just dunk it in ferric chloride. Easiest way to get a rough look.

[Pollinator95]

Just dunk it in ferric chloride. Easiest way to get a rough look.

Yup. Maybe cover some patches so it doesn't all get etched.

Edit: just remembered! The first time I tried etching an enclosure w/ FeCl (Hammond 1590A) I just painted parts with sharpie and dropped it into the tupperware container. It got VERY hot really quick and eat through the sharpie. Now I know it's better to use nail varnish and just drip the FeCl onto the enclosure a couple of sq.inches at a time.

[mathias]

If you want to protect parts from acid, stain, etching, etc, the best thing I've found is wax crayons.. either melt them and brush on with a cheap little paintbrush or just draw a thick layer (but harder to get it to be consistent layer with drawing it on.)

Then after you do your damage, to get the wax off, just use a scotch brite pad or steel wool and some good ol' dish soap.

[BrentMpls]

I had good results by covering an enclosure with copper foil, then using chemicals to create different layers of patina

I like that texture