Asking Advice for Aluminum Brush Handle

[takisg]

I have seen a lot of guys restoring Rubberset 400 Aluminum brushes/ Handles. What I want to know is after they polish the handle, do they paint it with any kind of lacquer in order to stay shined? Or they let it as is? I am wondering if with time and water will start to tarnish? The reason is that I want to make some brush handles for two TGN knots that I have. Since I can not get any Acrylic rods/ blanks, which I much prefer, I decided to craft it with Aluminum Alloy.

I know I can also craft them with wood, but I think, wood and water they don't get along. If I do, what kind of wood should I use? On the other hand is it easy to find Acrylic rods, with modest price of shipping to Europe?


Your help will be much appreciated in order to decide.

 

[Gigster]

You can leave it as is, after polishing, or you can coat it. Certain creams and soaps will tarnish the aluminum. After I polished mine, I used car wax, as a protective layer and reapply periodically. Generally, clear coats do not play well on polished aluminum.

 

[Big Jim]

Where did you look for acrylic blanks?

There is quite a selection available from Exotic Blanks. Their site is hard to search, but they have a lot of 1 1/2" blanks. Some of them are more easily found under "wine bottle stoppers" or something like that.

Penn State Industries has a few as well, and they also have a few 2" blanks. Their site is equally hard to search.

 

[mattdenicola]

I also used auto wax on mine. Worked pretty well. It does get a little cloudy over a few months, but I can re-polish it with some PlastX and it shines right back up. Haven't had to re-sand or anything like that.

 

[takisg]

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your valuable info.

 

[Reevers]

I tried to lacquer a handle that I turned on a lathe and the finish was too smooth for the laquer to bond. I'm working through a few potential solutions for my next 2 projects.

 

[Kwikrp]

How do you polish it to a mirror finish?

 

[duderubble]

I finally figured that out, so I will share, lol. I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish found in the Auto Care section at Walmart with the carwash supplies. I rubbed a thin layer on the whole thing and then I buffed it with a buffing pad on my dremel, then a wipe with a piece of an old t-shirt and viola, a mirror finish. I am waiting on knots to arrive and then I will post pictures of my twins. They will be one finest badger and one boar.

 

[JaxJim]

You can leave it as is, after polishing, or you can coat it. Certain creams and soaps will tarnish the aluminum. After I polished mine, I used car wax, as a protective layer and reapply periodically. Generally, clear coats do not play well on polished aluminum.

I also used auto wax on mine. Worked pretty well. It does get a little cloudy over a few months, but I can re-polish it with some PlastX and it shines right back up. Haven't had to re-sand or anything like that.

I haven't yet waxed mine, although I recall thinking that was a great idea when one of you guys posted about doing it in another thread. I've gotten by with just buffing it periodically with a microfiber cloth. Still nice and shiny. If it begins to tarnish, I'll break out the Maas or PlastX.