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I agree.
I've blasted, polished, painted, powder coated and anodized a lot of aluminum parts in various firearm, automotive and machinery restorations. If a bare aluminum part isn't going to be out in the weather continually nor subjected to caustic chemicals (gun cleaners/lubes are not caustic), the finish will generally remain nice for a long time with just a coat of wax after handling.
I've clear coated quite a few aluminum parts but the problem is if you get a scratch that removes the coating. Aluminum starts oxidizing immediately after it's exposed to air. This is actually a good property; the thin coating of alum oxide that forms protects the underlying material from heavier corrosion later. The exposed aluminum will change color slightly though, and if most of a part is clear coated, any area where it's removed will contrast slightly with the coated area and the part ends up looking like crap if it's handled a lot. Can't do much about it but remove all of the coating, refinish the metal and re-coat it at that point. Can't etch a polished part or use primer on it, so it's just the finish coat. Not very durable.
On the other hand, a small bare aluminum part that gets scratched or dull can easily be buffed out with scotch brite and/or polish in a few minutes to look like new.
However, I've had some folks demand that a brushed/polished aluminum part be clear coated for whatever reason. I've had very good results on small parts using this. Very tough stuff...
Never ends up looking quite as nice as bare aluminum in the long run though.
I've blasted, polished, painted, powder coated and anodized a lot of aluminum parts in various firearm, automotive and machinery restorations. If a bare aluminum part isn't going to be out in the weather continually nor subjected to caustic chemicals (gun cleaners/lubes are not caustic), the finish will generally remain nice for a long time with just a coat of wax after handling.
I've clear coated quite a few aluminum parts but the problem is if you get a scratch that removes the coating. Aluminum starts oxidizing immediately after it's exposed to air. This is actually a good property; the thin coating of alum oxide that forms protects the underlying material from heavier corrosion later. The exposed aluminum will change color slightly though, and if most of a part is clear coated, any area where it's removed will contrast slightly with the coated area and the part ends up looking like crap if it's handled a lot. Can't do much about it but remove all of the coating, refinish the metal and re-coat it at that point. Can't etch a polished part or use primer on it, so it's just the finish coat. Not very durable.
On the other hand, a small bare aluminum part that gets scratched or dull can easily be buffed out with scotch brite and/or polish in a few minutes to look like new.
However, I've had some folks demand that a brushed/polished aluminum part be clear coated for whatever reason. I've had very good results on small parts using this. Very tough stuff...
Never ends up looking quite as nice as bare aluminum in the long run though.
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