Powder coating window frames to look like anodized aluminum?

[Sicklyscott]

Hi -

Has anyone powder coated any parts to make them look like clear anodized aluminum? I'm trying to figure out what to do with my window trim and am worried if I polish it like originally planned I'm going to be chasing after scratches.

-S

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by Sicklyscott

Hi -

Has anyone powder coated any parts to make them look like clear anodized aluminum? I'm trying to figure out what to do with my window trim and am worried if I polish it like originally planned I'm going to be chasing after scratches.

-S

I don't have experience with making powder coating look like anodizing. I'm just wondering why you think polishing will have you chasing after scratches? I have a '74 which is before anodizing and so all the window trim is polished aluminum and I've never had any problems with is scratching

[wayner]

If you do want to go powder coat, the nearest I have found is "smoky chrome"

I haven't used it on window frames but have used it on other types of projects. It probably looks more like a polished billet as it is a bit darker than real chrome.

I have a 73 that had clear anodized frames. Someone had painted them and damage the anodizing so I stripped them and polished them.

I use a bit of aluminum polish each year to give it a once over before storage. The car sees a lot of weather but maintaining the look isn't too difficult.

[tijnes]

If you polish the frames at least you can fix the scratches or stains easily. With anodized or powder-coat there's not a lot you can do if you get any damage.

Martijn

[Sicklyscott]

You guys are quickly convincing me to polish things up. It doesn't seem like a quick process.

[Tidybuoy]

A picture of mine polished. Of course, I haven't actually polished in many years.

[Cooper911SC]

Polish them and have them Ceramic coated with High Gloss clear.

Looks very close to original and will hold up.

Cooper

[gshiwota]

I did this on my 356 when I used to own a Powder Coating shop. There are two methods you can use.

Method #1 - Polish trim to a bright finish then use a Powder clear coat. I polished myself using a buffing wheel on a harbor freight polisher - just be careful not to push too hard or you may bend the trim. When you polish you don't need to take it to a mirror finish assuming you want to look like factory anodize. This is a good method but does take time to get it polished evenly.

Method #2 - Clean parts and use "chrome" powder coating. This finish looks like bright aluminum. I used this on most of my 356 trim and even the aluminum drums. Even at shows this fooled most people who thought it was anodized trim. The best part is the "chrome" powder coat is easy to take care of. I believe it used Mirror Silver from Tiger Drylac which is a two step powder coat used with a clear coat for extra protection.

Powder Coat color: TIGER Drylac MIRROR SILVER 49/91260

Talk to your local powder coater and ask for a sample to see if its what you'd like. This is a really common color so they should have a sample.

[Sicklyscott]

Thanks folks.

It turns out I have 2 sets of rear pop-outs, one chrome (badly worn) and one aluminum. My eventual goal is to backdate my car however I have a ton of other projects to do on her (EFI ITB conversion, tracking down some front end noise, etc). I think this project will have to wait until next winter when i can just strip all the rubber off the frames and give it a good polishing.

My local powder coater does the chrome look paint and the ceramic coatings. I'm going to see if he can give me some samples to compare.

[jpnovak]

I did this a decade ago with "chrome". It looks very much like Al. My frames were damaged and painted with multiple layers of black and other color paints. I stripped them and did the PC myself.

ST Project: DIY home powder coating - tutorial on PC and doorframe restoration(pics)

It mostly held up well. After 5 years or so it was starting to get a cloudy finish. I guess the constant UV exposure in TX was detrimental. I did not clear the PC as it was not recommended long ago. The standard now for Chrome coatings is a secondary clear layer.

[mark 74 carrera]

When restoring a 74 Carrera with this blacked out trim, I decided to PC it all. It's not correct but achieved the blacked out look and has held up very well. Not a purist solution but serviceable.

Mark

[catuck]

This is a timely thread, I'm investigating the same idea myself. Gshiwota's post has me pretty convinced. I was going to have mine stripped, polished and clear anodized, but that's at least $1200.