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How to matte a Frame without Painting!

TheStig

OAE Member
Premium Member
Lifetime Member
12,128
8,143
Germany
Hi Forum,
couple a days ago I posted a picture of a Monster Dog that used to be polished and now its matte without repainting.
I promised to share with you the steps it takes.


Tools you need:

- Sand blasting Cabin:
They cost as little as $100,-.
Trust me as soon as you have one, you will have so many thing to to blast.
The Sand I used was already inside the Cabin. I'ts white and very fine.
No one remembers the brand or the grain size of the sand.
I think the finer the sand the better the result.

Bildschirmfoto 2019-10-30 um 18.45.21.png


- Ultrasonic Bath

Bildschirmfoto 2019-10-30 um 19.52.44.png


-Good old ArmerAll flat.


Bildschirmfoto 2019-10-05 um 19.44.55.png


Very easy steps.

1. Remove the lenses.
I am sure you all know how.

2. Remove the Icons.
I use hot water and a large Syringe Needle like for Horses.
The tip is strong and sharp and pointy and will not bend or slip.
The last thing you want is the tool you use to slip and scratch the Icon.

3. Prep the frame.
If the frame has scratches or bite marks you need to sand them off or reduce them as much as possible.
I used only 1000 and 1200 grid wet paper.

4. How to set up the the blast Cabin.
The compressed Air Pressure can be as low as 75psi or 5 bar.
The pressure does not have to be high, because you are not removing anything.
Of corse you can also remove paint but for that you might want to change the sand.
Also do not uses the same sand for other more dirty Projects.
The Cabin comes with 4 Ceramic nozzles.
I used the smallest Diameter Nozzle.

5. Blast the Frame.
Blast the frame as longe as you like.
I spray, I clean the frame in the Ultrasonic Bath and dry the frame.
I had to spray the frame 2-3 times until every part of the frame had the same surface texture.
Basically you cannot damage the frame.
After the Sand blasting treatment the surface comes out greyish.

DO NOT USE A ULTRASONIC BATH TO CLEAN FRAMES IF LENSES OR ICONS ARE STILL IN THE FRAME.
IT FUGS UP THE LENSES AND ICONES.


6. Final Treatment

Spray the frame thick until it drips off with ArmorAll wile the Frame rests on a Display Stand.
Let everything sit over night the longer the better.
Wipe excess ArmerAll.

Done.

7. Reassemble the Frame.

Clean the area where the Icon is glued in using a Q-Tip really good.
This glue I use is for Smart Phone Repair.
Easy and accurate apply with a needle Nozzle.
It comes in black and transparent.
It drys fast and can be removed with heat.

Bildschirmfoto 2019-10-30 um 20.38.49.png


Pictures will follow.
 
Nice write up.
Which ultrasonic bath do you use?
Iv never had a problem with mine messing with icons.

Are you going to try the blaster on an x metal finish? Or do metals at all?
Just a $30,00,- Hardware-Store unit.
It made lenses delaminate and damaged the chrome of golden MD Icons.
So I will never do that again.

I have no plans to do a x-metal frame because I do not have one.
But that would be a cool way to matte a metal frame as well.
 
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