MANY USES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 September 1932, Page 2

MANY USES

TREATMENT OF ALUMINIUM FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES. • : A MOTTLE DESIGNS. By correct treatment, many variatjons in the way of mottling are possible from a plain surface in aluminium. Many of tnese are most decorative, and can be applied to engine parts, dashboards, or complete bodies. A design of small duffed circles is very attractive, and the only equipment necessary' is some coarse enxery powder and a cork, plus an amount of patience depending on the araa to to ,be covered. Begin by p'olishing the surface to be mottled with a paste made from whiting and water, or petrol. Ordinary meal polishes often contain acids which tend to hlacken the aluminium, also leaving a greasy deposit. Cut a shaving from one end of a coi-k so as to level it, and dip it dry into the emery powder. Press the cork against the aluminium evenly, and give it a twist, once onl/, then repeat the proeess so that the next cirele slightly overlaps the first. For the best finish the circles must oe properly aligned and evenly spaced, so a long straight edge should be fixed to the aluminium with a eouple uf G clamps. When mottling a da ,hboura it may be necessary to re nove the instruments to fix the straight edge. A fair result may be secured if a small cork is usied and judgment alone depended upon to guide it. Since frequent dipping of the cork into the powder is needed, the mottling of a large surface is rather tedious, the bonnet and dash representing about the limit of most people's patience. Attractive patterns can be produced in another way which is rapid enough to allow covering a whole bodv in reasonable time.

A piece of fine sandpaper or emery cloth is wrapped over a finger, and used to draw small repeated designs on tbe aluminium. The design must be small, equally spaced, and uw form. A sheet of waste aluminium or the inside of the bonnet should fire he used for experiments. Whatever method of mottling the aluminium is used, the effect will not long retain its brilliance unless protected by a film varnish or clear lacquer. The latter is better, as it dries very quickly and therefore is lc-ss likely to he spoilt by dust settling on it. Dust otf the aluminium with a soft, clean rag, and then apply the lacquer with a brush after it has been well tninnned down with lacquer thinner. Use a soft brush, preferably a new one. Coloured transparent laequers can also be obtained with which some very attractive effeets are possible. In the case of aluminium which has been mottled and lacquerod, shabhi- ; ness is usually caused by the lacquer ! or varnish having perished. In such cases it is usually necessary to clean , eff the old lacquer carefully 'with i fresh coat. Be careful to remove all paint remover, and then to apply a traces of the pafint removjer with | petrol hefore applying the _ fresh lac- j quer. f In cases where it is desired to re- I new the surfaces of the aluminium | without the extra trouhle of mottling, j a uniformly sandpapered and lac- 1 quered surface is quite attractive, j particularly if a coloured lacquer is i j used.