Question on black face plates

[vintage 5.0]

I was curious what might be good to make a aluminum face plate look nice. I have a amp with a black face plate and it is black but could be a little blacker. Anyone have any ideas on something that could be put on to help it look better.

 

[darkblue94]

Powdercoating.

 

[OMGCat!]

I use auto detailing wax on all of my gear. If the face plate is in good shape just dusty or smudgy the wax will make it look beautiful. It tends to darken the color a bit and prevents fingerprints from sticking so it stays looking nice.

If it's faded or damaged then the only way to restore it is to get it reanodized which will also mean recreating the silk screening of the letters.

 

[vintage 5.0]

Good idea I might try the wax idea thanks.

 

[WaynerN]

Black faceplates are anodized black, then the graphics are lasered in, removing the top anodizing layer, exposing the natural aluminum. of course, quality of the anodizing varies from vendor to vendor. Any suggestions I have would have no reversal process if it did not work.

 

[bimasta]

Black faceplates are anodized black, then the graphics are lasered in, removing the top anodizing layer, exposing the natural aluminum.

This applies to some — my DB Systems preamp uses this elegant method, and it never rubs off — but all the others I have are the usual white ink screened on, and does rub off if not careful. The anodizing itself seems sensitive to UV, so keep it out of direct sunlight; it gradually fades to purple, and it isn't even an even purple, it's mottled. Not pretty.

Wayner, maybe you can help with this question. Aluminum loses its shine over time, goes dull unless protected. But the lettering on my DB still gleams even though it's exposed to all the elements... for almost 40 years. Any idea how/why it stays so nice?

 

[teal'c]

Vantablack
Sorry, we can't use that. You need Black 2.0.

 

[WaynerN]

Frank's faceplate's are 2 part anodized aluminum. One color for the faceplate, another (usually gold or white) for the graphics. There are only a couple of places that I know of that can do this process, as it requires masking of areas. The Graphics will never wear off.