"rusting" aluminum

[dryvr12]

I have stacks for a truck. I need to "rust" them, and they are aluminum from an antenna. Do i rust steel wool and rub it on the antenna? Do i paint it rust colors? (This would be harder for me because of all the color combining) Do i put the antenna in salt water and paint the corrosion spots a rust color?]

I really have no idea, and any input would be great.

[oldman23]

Hi Dryvr12

Micro Mark carries just what you need it's called patina it and rust it it works good on aluminum. I never seen aluminum rust it just corrodes away. It bubbles up and forms a white power (like calcium deposits) on it and it gets pit holes in it until it's all gone.

I worked in an aluminum extruding shop and watched this stuff wither away in piles. that is why you get more for it when you scrap it.

It can be smelted down with a 90% return on product. If I was you I would paint sections of it with red oxide paint then cover it with a light coat of rubber cement and Paint it aluminum. It will come out dull but that is what you want. Then just use your finger and roll up a bit of the rubber cement to show the primer under it you can grind holes and ruff it up before putting on the cement and painting it. when it's dry dust it with a light coat of light earth and a coat of dust. you can practice on a pencil or straws until you get it right.

Have fun

Ernie

[jbwelda]

aluminum doesn't rust, it discolors, oxidizes and eventually might corrode away.

but if you want to rust something, theres a company who sells special rusting kits (like "rust-all" or similar, look in the ads of our hosts' magazine) or you can use salt like you say and then experiment with browns and blacks and washes over baking soda or over panels youve taken your dremel tool to just enough to slightly break through, giving the appearance of corrosion inside the panel. rust in other words. that might even look right if they happen to be iron stacks youre talking about.

if its really for aluminum stacks, like injector stacks left out in the weather, maybe half fill them with blued epoxy to look like water collected in them and then some dullcoat and light weathering to make it look like aluminum corrosion from exposure to the elements.

good luck and post some pics!