[Skunkabilly]

Can aluminum be blued? :uhoh:

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Nope. But it can be blackened, anodized or any number of mag-pho type finishes ala M16/AR15 types.

edit: or it can be bright polished and clear coated... you know... for the antitactical type.

[Frohickey]

Does tactical always have to be black?

Wouldn't a brushed aluminum gun be tactical for winter ops? ;)

[JNewell]

And anodizing can be done in some really wild colors.

For the aesthetactical types. :scrutiny: :D

[Edward429451]

If you use that AlumiBlack or what ever it is (blue bottle), be careful with it. I ruined a flash hider with it.

[Badger Arms]

If you have a media blaster and clean media (not used previously on steel) you can frost the aluminum and it will take paint really well. Use Brownells Alumahyde and it ends up being pretty tough. Ruger has some really good aluminum coating they use on their P94 pistols. That stuff is tough. Not sure what it is though. The toughest dark finish out there is actually a bit on the purple side. I don't mind, but some people have issues with purple guns.

[grendelbane]

I have issues with purple guns. For some strange reason, I like them.

I don't like them enough to pay a premium for them, however.

[Black Snowman]

IIRC aluminium can also be powder-coated which is fairly durable but can be a bit thick.

I'm in the same boat as grendelbane but I will pay a little extra for one. I made marbled purple plastic grips for my 1911. Didn't quite work with the blued finish so I threw in some SS accent parts and now it looks sufficiantly gaudy ;) Still want a SS barrel bushing or at least plunger tube. The business end of the gun is still a little too plain.

[CJ]

For some ideas of what can be done to aluminum, look at paintball markers and see the types of custom finishes they frequently have.

[Sunray]

You can use spray paint made for Al too. Wears off, but so does anodizing. Purple guns. Geezuz!