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RE: Final Spinner Top Colors!
SlikStik-Christian:
--- Quote from: Brax on April 24, 2003, 09:18:44 pm ---Is that clear anodized on the end or is it just polished?
If its just polished how long before it oxidizes? Polished Aluminum on my bike will oxidize in a week. Whats the life of polished aluminum in the home? 6 months?
Black dye generally costs more, does your black knob cost more?
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Brax,
They are polished not clear anodized. We went with the high polished rather then clear anodizing, clear anodizing actually takes away from the shine of a polished knob resulting in a much duller finish.
As for the type of aluminum we use, we opted for 6061 heat treated grade aluminum, it is the most widely used and is fits our needs well. There are many types of aluminum including 2011 which Oscar uses, to be very honest the main difference between 6061 & 2011 is tensile strength. 2011 is used more in the industry of the manufacturing of aircraft pats due to the strength not its corrosion properties.
Anyway, I have had some of our tops for almost 4 months now and they also look the same as the day I received them. Ultimately there are many factors that play a part in oxidizing including moisture, air conditions and the area you live in. I was actually picking up the final tops this morning and was inclined to ask our machinist to show me some pieces he had laying around they had for a long period of time, they actually showed me some of the exact aluminum that is used on our tops that they have had for 2 years that looked brand new.
With that being said, I would say that they would last for a very long period of time.
OSCAR:
--- Quote from: SlikStik-Christian on April 25, 2003, 10:49:58 am ---There are many types of aluminum including 2011 which Oscar uses, to be very honest the main difference between 6061 & 2011 is tensile strength. 2011 is used more in the industry of the manufacturing of aircraft pats due to the strength not its corrosion properties.
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I no longer use 2011. I switched to a 6xxx series some time ago.
SlikStik-Christian:
--- Quote from: OSCAR on April 25, 2003, 11:14:40 am ---
--- Quote from: SlikStik-Christian on April 25, 2003, 10:49:58 am ---There are many types of aluminum including 2011 which Oscar uses, to be very honest the main difference between 6061 & 2011 is tensile strength. 2011 is used more in the industry of the manufacturing of aircraft pats due to the strength not its corrosion properties.
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I no longer use 2011. I switched to a 6xxx series some time ago.
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Sorry, I thought you used 2011. I guess I should visit your website more often ;D
Analog-X:
SlikStik-Christian & Oscar:
Just my 2 cents here.
A Piece aluminum sitting in a bin somewhere in a shop, is
not going to be subject to the same elements than as a
spinner control in a arcade cab.
You did mention the "factors that play a part in oxidizing including moisture, air conditions and the area you live in"
We have to consider the Human Factor, sweaty palms / hands being one of those factors.
Human sweat has some salt content, how is that going to effect the spinner?
Long story short, the true test will be to have one of your spinners installed in an arcade cabinet and used on a regular basis and see how it weathers over a period of 6-12 months.
To just have the spinner or piece of aluminum not oxidize or react on its own is not a true test in my humble opinion.
Brax:
I'm only familiar with T-6 myself so that's all I can talk about but I can say that untreated it will only last untreated a matter of weeks before it will lose some of it's shine.
That being said, if you know anything about polishing aluminum it can be brought back in a matter of minutes... It's still a bother i'd rather do without though.
As far as it losing it's shine after anodising.... The shine is directly dependant on you shiney it was to start. If you were to give it a higher polish I'm sure you could have it looking the same as it was previously.. To each their own.
I'm honestly not in the market for one so don't change anything from what I say. I'm a loyal customer of Kelsey's..
(or at least will be in the near future! hehe)