Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: How to replicate finish...on alu calipers

  1. 08-30-2020, 06:48 AM #1
    speedo
    speedo is offline
    Senior Member speedo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    1,546

    How to replicate finish...on alu calipers

    I have refinished my rear ATE calipers with yellow zinc, and they look great. My front calipers were long ago swapped out for Bremtek aluminum four piston calipers.
    They were originally dark anodized, and now they are back to raw aluminum color. I would like to make them resemble the "watery yellow" finish on the rear steel calipers. It was suggested that I "dust" them with a gold rattle-can color . I picked up a can of this at the auto parts store and have two problems with this suggestion...1) the gold is waaay off the yellow zinc color and 2) it is not high temp. Suggestions? And no I am not interested in sending them off to be refinished.
    I would like to solve this myself. Any metallurgists out there that have experience with coating aluminum?
    registry# 1283
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 08-30-2020, 07:54 AM #2
    mfitton
    mfitton is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Chicago Area
    Posts
    5,440
    Interested in this also!.

    Name: popcorn.gif Views: 340 Size: 6.6 KB
    Mike Fitton # 2071
    2018 911S Carrera White
    2012 991 Platinum Silver ( Gone)
    1971 911T Targa Bahia Red (Gone to France)
    1995 911 Carrera Polar Silver (Gone)

    No Affiliation with City of Chicago!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 08-30-2020, 08:18 AM #3
    Bullethead
    Bullethead is offline
    Oil Cooled Heart Bullethead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    2,195
    Never tried their products on calipers, but VHT makes dependable hi-temp rattle can paints... found this first click: https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-E.../dp/B000994BUW
    Russ

    ESR # 1537

    '62 356S Notchback Hotrod
    '67 S Das Geburtstagsgeschenk
    '68 T Targa Sportomatic
    '68 L SW Targa Sportomatic
    '70 914/6 GT
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 08-30-2020, 08:55 AM #4
    Scott A
    Scott A is offline
    Senior Member Scott A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South East USA
    Posts
    913
    Did you try this?
    If you polish metal, and dust this. It seems to work well.
    Name: 75291E4D-9ED3-431C-B95C-B7C0AA0E4249.jpg Views: 309 Size: 58.9 KB

    Current long term ownership: 63 Cab, 71 911, 74 914
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 08-30-2020, 12:11 PM #5
    Tonger
    Tonger is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    117
    This guy from 'Mike's Restorations' Youtube channel has a great video on the zinc plating process for SWB Porsche calipers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBQDZI5xz4w

    He also has a second video where he rebuilds them with new seals

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt3huX8llsE

    He uses the Caswell electroplating system and has gotten some really nice results.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 08-30-2020, 02:18 PM #6
    Jim Morris
    Jim Morris is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    424
    Yes, but Tonger, zinc plating doesn't work on aluminum. Aluminum requires anodize. That is why Speedo is trying to find a substitute that will work on aluminum. He needs an anodize that matches the color he is after. Or, he will have to settle for spray paint, which will look like spray paint. Perhaps Scott A.'s suggestion will provide a good enough result. It will be helpful to get a follow-up if Speedo tries this.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 08-30-2020, 02:55 PM #7
    Bullethead
    Bullethead is offline
    Oil Cooled Heart Bullethead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    2,195
    Quote Originally Posted by Scott A View Post
    Did you try this?
    Sheesh. Did you notice the Amazon link below to that very product before posting? SMH...
    Russ

    ESR # 1537

    '62 356S Notchback Hotrod
    '67 S Das Geburtstagsgeschenk
    '68 T Targa Sportomatic
    '68 L SW Targa Sportomatic
    '70 914/6 GT
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 08-30-2020, 04:58 PM #8
    Tonger
    Tonger is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    117
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Morris View Post
    Yes, but Tonger, zinc plating doesn't work on aluminum. Aluminum requires anodize. That is why Speedo is trying to find a substitute that will work on aluminum. He needs an anodize that matches the color he is after. Or, he will have to settle for spray paint, which will look like spray paint. Perhaps Scott A.'s suggestion will provide a good enough result. It will be helpful to get a follow-up if Speedo tries this.
    You are absolutely right, my bad. It looks like the aluminum chemical film process is something called yellow iridite. That is something you would need a plater to help with.

    https://www.smlease.com/entries/fini...rsion-coating/

    https://difco.us.com/chem-film/
    Last edited by Tonger; 08-30-2020 at 05:15 PM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 09-02-2020, 12:34 AM #9
    911_2.2T
    911_2.2T is offline
    Senior Member 911_2.2T's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    1,075
    I had mine done at a local anodising shop in the Netherlands.
    They were also able to do the neccesary prep work like grinding and polishing.
    Color was regular gold anodising, but they were able to tune the shade somehow to light gold.
    Attached Images Attached Images   
    =========================================
    2.4T 1972 Targa - Tangerine German Delivery Ölklappe
    2.4T 1973 Coupe - Golden Green 911ST with 2.8 MFI TwinPlug
    1.7 1970 914-4 - Hell Elfenbein Weiss to be Sonauto GT with a Six
    Looking for engine #6522576
    Rgruppe #674
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules


Message Board Disclaimer and Terms of Use
This is a public forum. Messages posted here can be viewed by the public. The Early 911S Registry is not responsible for messages posted in its online forums, and any message will express the views of the author and not the Early 911S Registry. Use of online forums shall constitute the agreement of the user not to post anything of religious or political content, false and defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise to violate the law and the further agreement of the user to be solely responsible for and hold the Early 911S Registry harmless in the event of any claim based on their message. Any viewer who finds a message objectionable should contact us immediately by email. The Early 911S Registry has the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.