Matte Aluminum BMF

[afx]

I believe most body trim is stainless steel in lieu of chrome.  Wondering if matte aluminium BMF might be a better choice than the bright chrome.  Anyone every try it?

[BigTallDad]

If you're not looking for a bright shiny appearance, why not just paint the part with stainless steel paint?

[MeatMan]

I have the matte BMF and it does look the part, but I don't think it handles as well.

It also doesn't give that brushed look of real trim, so there's still a trade-off. One that I, personally can live with.

[jaymcminn]

It looks pretty good, but has the usual poor adhesive that non-chrome BMF products are known for. I've used it for things like heat shielding.

[935k3]

Another problem is when it is burnished into place it gets as shiny as the regular foil.

[Mark]

It's good when you need something that contrasts with the regular chrome, like the quarter panel inserts on a '57 Chevy.  I haven't had a problem with it getting shinier during application, but then again I only burnish it enough to get it into place.

[Art Anderson]

Actually, when new, stainless steel trim appeared as highly polished,not dull nor "matte".  On the other hand, by 1957 or s, and continuing for a few years afterward, "anodized aluminum found its way on to cars as brightwork trim--and true anodized aluminum, while a bright silver in color, is never as shiny as either chromium plating or polished stainless stee.  The side spears on 1958-59 Chevrolets were anodized aluminum, as were the grilles, and headlight bezels (on all trim levels).

Art

[Draggon]

I use matte aluminum exclusively. It does get shinier when burnishing, but IMO not worth worrying about. I think it looks better than the chrome sheets. Not the best view in this pic, but the chrome on the side spear is matte aluminum bmf.

Edited June 15, 2017 by Draggon

[afx]

Window and body trim does not appear to be as shiny as the bumpers.

Edited June 15, 2017 by afx

[JollySipper]

You could try to dull the finish of a sheet of chrome with a Scotch-Brite pad, then cut and apply......

[Art Anderson]

Window and body trim does not appear to be as shiny as the bumpers.

The stainless side spears and window garnish trim would have been nearly as shiny as the chrome bumpers when the car was new, though.   And, in some respects, the bumpers would  not have been as slick-shiny as they might be after restoration.  That was due to the deep stamping "draws".particulary at the ends of the bumpers, where the steel literally got stretched to the point of nearly tearing.  At the factory, those raw steel bumpers got at least a cursory "buffing" before plating, both those stretchmarks still showed through, at least slightly.

Art