Great Success! DIY Brushed Aluminum

[b6onboost]

After noticing quite a few scratches in my OEM Fishscale Aluminum trim I decided to bite the bullet and attempt to refinish it with a brushed look. Thanks to everyone who has done this mod and provided a write-up.

My process:
- Acetone and scrub off fishscale with green pad.
- 150 Grit for the stubborn areas (the fishscale texture turned out being thicker in certain places).
- 220 the entire piece.
- 320 the entire piece, going 1 direction from end to end of piece until the lines are perfect.
- Acetone clean, scrub with green pad to knock down metal shine (will not affect the brushed lines)
- Clear using Satin brushing lacquer. 1-2 swipes down the trim is all you need, just enough to cover the piece.

This mod took a long time. I probably put 20hrs into the trim to get it like this. 10hrs to get it ready for clear then another 10hrs due to stripping, cleaning, and reclearing nearly every piece due to clearcoat imperfections. I found that buffing, wetsanding, ect did nothing. If the clear was not perfect, it had to be redone. Now that it's finished I am pleased, and aside from my spare time it only cost about $20 in materials.

[kwik_shift]

Damn 20 hours....but sure looks clean. Props

[alexza4]

Looks really good. Planning to do mine once it get warm.

[omgwtfbbq!]

Great success indeed! Looks flawless man, good job!

[Dan1969]

This thing looks like it was a b*tch. I got an extra fishcale trim laying around, will set this as a project.

[nananana4k]

looks awesome. was thinking about doing the same thing. Thanks for the parts list.

[b6onboost]

It was, mainly due to how time consuming it was. I did not have time to finish it all at once, so it was a process that was spread out over a few weeks. Plus, I demanded perfection so I refinished a few pieces that most people would not.

This thing looks like it was a b*tch.

[Matt@EuropaParts]

I want to try this. I think it'll match the little piece of alumnium on my RS4 wheel better than the greyish/black trim I have now does.

[zz2h33]

damn that looks awesome. props on a job well done.

anyone want to trade 3.0 wood for fish scale?

[Dan1969]

It was, mainly due to how time consuming it was. I did not have time to finish it all at once, so it was a process that was spread out over a few weeks. Plus, I demanded perfection so I refinished a few pieces that most people would not.

We might have something in common, OCD FTW.

[dirtybrd]

nice!

[toaster]

you know i approve.

for ref. mine took 12-15 hours. i also refinished numerous times.

more info on this mod:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...fference+piano

[PDX04a4]

looks great, if i ever get tired of my ultra suede ill give this a shot.

[NyteEscape]

hmm..i kinda wanna see it in person...

[b6onboost]

Yep. Your thread is the reason I chose to clear it with brushing lacquer.

you know i approve.

for ref. mine took 12-15 hours. i also refinished numerous times.

more info on this mod:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...fference+piano

That could be arranged.

hmm..i kinda wanna see it in person...

[b4a41point8t]

I also just finished mine. Brushed lacquer is def the way to go!!! Couldn't find minwax so I used deft brushing lacquer in a can. Came out perfect. Also realized I'm OCD. I finised in week 3 after several different clears and and reclearing many times. I'll post pics on my brushed aluminum thread. You can look me up by my sn. I'll have a complete write up with pics and pitfalls/advice.

[Synthetik]

That looks so sick. I'm deff going to have to do it this summer

[romell]

hmm..i kinda wanna see it in person...

doooo it!

[A4SoftWalker]

Excellent post... any more pics.... + rep for u.

Try and get this in the DIY if u have more pics and maybe a few more tips from experienced issues during the job...

[AvantJunkie]

Great job, looks perfect!!

[Cool_Etahn]

Very nice. I really like my Fish Scale trim in my car though.

[A4natomical]

Good Job!!!

I like where you said, "Plus, I demanded perfection so I refinished a few pieces that most people would not." <<that was totally me as well.

I just noticed my ashtray cover looks like the clear coat is "fogging" up. It looks discolored in random spots. I'm gonna have to redo that piece and see what was up...

[BASARAB]

Does anyone have better quality pics? Any regrets to this mod? Or did u do something different, like painting it some crazy color?

[RicardoTG]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, and this is probably a dumb question, but how does one deal with the quattro logo, or the detail on the ashtray cover? I was thinking of just breaking them out then hot-gluing them back in, but was hoping for a better way.

[gmudan]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, and this is probably a dumb question, but how does one deal with the quattro logo, or the detail on the ashtray cover? I was thinking of just breaking them out then hot-gluing them back in, but was hoping for a better way.

Sell your car for a fwd. LOL im joking, i was thinking to tape it with like 3 layers. I did my ashtray cover and i taped that part with two layers.

[rollerton]

That actually works. They're just secured by something like a 'heat rivet' - they have little plastic pegs that are pressed hot to hold them in. Quattro badge comes off easy, you have to be pretty careful with the ashtray detail parts, they're pretty delicate.

[f1torrents]

So, the fish scale molding is actually made of aluminum...

I was thinking it was a type of plastic with a vinyl type decal on it.

Its made of real aluminum???

[diagnosticator]

So, the fish scale molding is actually made of aluminum...

I was thinking it was a type of plastic with a vinyl type decal on it.

Its made of real aluminum???

Yes, not plastic.

[A4natomical]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, and this is probably a dumb question, but how does one deal with the quattro logo, or the detail on the ashtray cover? I was thinking of just breaking them out then hot-gluing them back in, but was hoping for a better way.

What rollerton said.

I've done this mod. Quattro badge comes out, just be careful. Mine fit back in snug without any glue. Ashtray cover, I had to tape it with a few layers and razor blade around it.

[AudiWoo]

This looks incredibly clean, nice work

[jschmidtjordan]

bringing this back from the dead. doing this with an extra set of trim I picked up,
read a couple diys and thought i would show one thing.
like stated above, the piece in the ashtray does come out with some work disassembling the ashtray.
I didn't want to have to be careful taping and all that so I took it out




is it worth the effort rather than just taping and being careful. probably not but at least it can be done. I have re assembled it and if I can put it back together and it be functional, anyone can

[y0itzflip]

man i love that look

[DenverAudiInnie]

Beginning this project today!!! I'll report back. Thanks for this.

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