Best alloy aluminum for engraving?

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by Geof Are you still in the design stage? Possibly you could consider aluminum, 7075 possibly, but what you need is something that machines really well and anodizes really well. You machine your top surface maybe 0.005" too high and then engrave using a 60 degree engraving bit to a depth of 0.010" Now you get it anodized dark blue. You know blue is possible because I posted a blue anodized piece and it is possible to get darker than that. Then put the anodized piece back in the machine and finish off the top surface leaving the engraving still dark blue. Now you have a choice; you could do the satin finish and then clear anodize or you could get it etched and anodized but I don't know how good that would be. If you are getting your satin finish by bead blasting what might be possible is to coat the part after anodizing but before the final machining with plastic that can be readily dissolved. Then machine, bead blast for the satin, wash off the plastic which has protected the blue engraving during the blasting and get a final clear anodize. Obviously you will need to deal with a good anodizer.

This is a good.

The Satin Finish and Stainless Color are part of the Theme with this car. Clear coating will definitely be done, but the painted detail (customer specific) has to be painted Dark Blue. The ones he is replacing where Anodized before and he didn't like it. I wish there were pictures I could show, but this car hasn't been shown to the public yet. The owner doesn't want anyone stealing his ideas if you know what I mean. These guys are obsessed with their autos LOL.

To give you an idea of the competition here is a website fro you to look through.

http://www.timemachinesinc.com/

These are 100% Custom Cars that Auction for hundreds of thousands.