Hello everybody -- long time lurker, first time poster

I've been curious about aluminium as a painting substrate, and came across the aluminium panels provided by Jacksons Art -- anybody tried them?
Their panels are
anodised aluminium -- which is quite different to Dibond
(an ACM). Anodised means the aluminium won't "oxidise" and tarnish.
Jacksons Art Blog: "
These panels have an anodised aluminium surface that is ready-prepared for use with all types of painting media, including oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache and ink as well as some drawing media like pencil and pen. No priming is necessary. The paint will adhere very well to the metal."
This is a bonus given there's no white coating to sand down (like you do with Dibond), however Jacksons advises (in the comments beneath the blog post) a "light sanding" if someone wishes to use a primer for a different texture/colour. A light sanding is so that the priming will adhere better (which makes me worry given that aluminium dust is hazardous to breathe).
I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but I'd love to know if anybody here has tried Jacksons panels before and can give their two cents?
Comments
Ha ha, I like your opening line.
I had recently read that the art shop aluminium panels are way over priced compared with buying elswehere. I hadn’t realised, as you mentioned, that they are different than the likes of Dibond.
I’m not an expert on them, but there are plenty of knowledgable people on here who I am sure can advise.
I get my wooden panels from Jacksons, I have yet to give aluminium a try.
If you type `aluminium panels` into the search box on here it will come up with a few past threads and posts and I am sure some useful info there too.
I will only use ACM. The list of faults, difficulties and limitations with linen or cotton canvas or with hardboards has driven me to aluminium panels.
Can be used straight or sanded to give some tooth. Avail in many colours eg browns, beige, black, white as a toned support.
Many brands available. Love this no odour Dulux product. My supplier tints it grey or a red/brown for me.
No adhesion, slipping, cracking or wrinkling problems.
Denis
Thanks Michael! And yes, the search bar for my first stop here. Read with great interest the info shared by @PaulB on his experience with Dibond
I heard that to use Dibond/ACM straight (no sanding, just peel off and paint) is problematic due to the smoothness of the polyester coating -- ie. every brush stroke is visible, a lot of paint required for opacity to hide the white surface beneath, so smooth you'll want to use watercolour brushes, etc.
Then to sand it down for some tooth is also problematic given you'd be inhaling polyester/aluminium dust (reaching the AL layer beneath the coating seems inevitable).
The hazards of inhaling not something I'd be concerned for myself, but more my cat (who shares both indoor and outdoor space with me, her coat would inevitably come into contact with the stuff no matter how much vacuuming I did, etc).
Can one simply apply a primer without sanding the coating of the ACM?
Excellent point -- someone in the comments (under the JAB article) also pointed out: "Whether the adhesion is “fantastic” remains to be seen over time (50 years)."
In practice it is often top coated with a clear coat to increase the properties of the oxide layer. Apparently it does improve the adhesion of paints, assuming that it isn't top coated already, as most anodizing is.
By "coating", do you mean sealing? My understanding is that aluminium naturally forms a thin layer of aluminium oxide on its surface -- which makes it challenging for paint to adhere to unless this oxidisation layer is adequately removed and then "sealed" to prevent further oxidation.
I'm just as confused, perhaps this statement by them might shed light: "[Our] process modifies the surface by creating aluminium oxide within the surface, creating an extremely hard porous surface that allows fantastic adhesion of paints."
They admit that watercolour doesn't layer well at all on their panels, that it readily lifts off when rewetted. Apparently it's the least permanent medium on their aluminium panels.
Very interesting, do you mean like Alfoil??
If I sand ACM it amounts to light scratching and is done outside.
After my primer I block in with acrylic and overcoat with oils. No opacity problems with Geneva.
Brush strokes can be eliminated with medium or maximised with texture gels
Read the label on the tin. Ideal for glossy surfaces.
Denis
The technique described above is taught by Michael James Smith (MJS). A modicum of patience and a few simple brush strokes and stunning realism is possible.
MJS has an on line school. https://www.michaeljamessmith.tv/
Denis
https://justpaint.org/painting-with-oils-on-non-porous-substrates/
I do circular scuffing with wire wool which I find stops the polyester coating being broken through.
Just tying up a loose end on this thread.
here is the cutting, sanding and gesso prep of ACM.
Please don’t use a lead primer.
No need to glue on linen, unless you consider canvas texture essential.
https://youtu.be/i6jBWM1fl-s
Denis
https://www.newlinepainting.com.au/paint-primer-guide/
What is a paint primer?
Paint primer, otherwise also known as an undercoat, are painted onto the surface before the colour paint is added. There are three main reasons for using a primer on a surface. It provides strong adhesion that acts as a glue between the surface material and the paint. It is an extra layer between material and the paint. This allows the finishing paint better durability and protection on the material. It also blocks any smell or stain from the material from surfacing.
How is primer different from paint?
Without delving deep into the nitty-gritty stuff, the difference between primers and paints lies in the chemicals inside them. Primers contain resins that allow them to provide a chemical bond between the surface material and the paint. Paints contain pigments that provide them colour along with the durability to perform better under certain conditions and weather.
Denis
Applies several coats of acrylic gesso.
Excellent point -- someone in the comments (under the JAB article) also pointed out: "Whether the adhesion is “fantastic” remains to be seen over time (50 years)."
In practice it is often top coated with a clear coat to increase the properties of the oxide layer. Apparently it does improve the adhesion of paints, assuming that it isn't top coated already, as most anodizing is.
By "coating", do you mean sealing? My understanding is that aluminium naturally forms a thin layer of aluminium oxide on its surface -- which makes it challenging for paint to adhere to unless this oxidisation layer is adequately removed and then "sealed" to prevent further oxidation.
I'm just as confused, perhaps this statement by them might shed light: "[Our] process modifies the surface by creating aluminium oxide within the surface, creating an extremely hard porous surface that allows fantastic adhesion of paints."
They admit that watercolour doesn't layer well at all on their panels, that it readily lifts off when rewetted...apparently it's the least permanent medium on their aluminium panels.
Very interesting, do you mean like Alfoil??
Excellent point -- someone in the comments (under the JAB article) also pointed out: "Whether the adhesion is “fantastic” remains to be seen over time (50 years)."
In practice it is often top coated with a clear coat to increase the properties of the oxide layer. Apparently it does improve the adhesion of paints, assuming that it isn't top coated already, as most anodizing is.
By "coating", do you mean sealing? My understanding is that aluminium naturally forms a thin layer of aluminium oxide on its surface -- which makes it challenging for paint to adhere to unless this oxidisation layer is adequately removed and then "sealed" to prevent further oxidation.
I'm just as confused, perhaps this statement by them might shed light: "[Our] process modifies the surface by creating aluminium oxide within the surface, creating an extremely hard porous surface that allows fantastic adhesion of paints."
They admit that watercolour doesn't layer well at all on their panels, that it readily lifts off when rewetted. Apparently it's the least permanent medium on their aluminium panels.
Very interesting, do you mean like Alfoil??