Sort of an odd ?????

[Muttley]

Does anyone know how to age aluminum? I have one of those Moon gasser pedals that will be going into my coupe and I would like it to look good and used. I have heard some strange ideas about how to do it, including taking a leak on it (I'm not kidding http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif and NO I havent done it) but nothing has worked so far. Any ideas?

[chromedRAT]

piss can patina bronze and brass, if i'm correct the romans and greeks sometimes utilized that. birchwood-casey may make a chemical that could do it, they have it for brass, iron and bronze for sure.

[DrJ]

Rattle can engine degreasers do a fair job of fucking up the finish of aluminum. Or a salt bath.

[Lionheart]

Spray ANY kind of oven cleaner on it 'or' soak it in Muriatic acid for about 10-15 min. and then wash off with water to stop the chemical reaction. let it dry and Whalaaaa, instant patina.

[swazzie]

Seriously! ? Use Overnight oven cleaner and make sure that it is outside , did I say to make sure it is outside? MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE IT OUTSIDE AFTER YOU SPRAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Easy off works the best , good Luck ! swaZZie

[C9]

Just install and use.

Couple of years, it'll be patina'd quite well.

If the coupe is under construction you may want to set the pedal out where the elements can get to it.
Aluminum sailboat masts - both inland and on the ocean - oxidize pretty fast.
One summer and they're dull looking and the oxidation will rub off on the sails leaving a dirty spot where the sail contacted the mast, spreaders or rigging.

In fact - to go a little farther afield - sailboat owners do one of three things for aluminum mast maintenance.
Polish to a nice finish, dull brushed aluminum looking, not buffed.
Paint.
Let it oxidize which is a protective coating in itself.

[Slide]

If you really want it to look like it's been around a while, put it in some kind of container that's not a whole lot bigger than the pedal. Throw some misc. sheet metal screws, lug nuts, rocks, whatever in there with it. Close the container and shake for a while. The more you shake, the more the pedal will look like it's been around a while! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, I'd second the saltwater idea.

[pigpen]

Try soaking it in Metel Prep (The stuff you use to prep/etch sheet metal before paint) for a day or so. Also a good trick for de-rusting steel parts. Turns them black and that wire brushes right off to reveal shiny new steel.

pigpen

[Muttley]

Oven cleaner worked great, it looks nice and crusty now. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif