Most durable Reo Finish?

[creekside]

Hi, all:

I have two Minis that are pretty beat up from repeated drops, accidental flings, a lot of interactions with sand, and several dips in the ocean. The insides still work great, but the outsides are a bit tattered.

As I ponder my next Reo purchase, I'm wondering if the textured, veined, or powdercoated finishes might show less abuse over time. The look of the tumbled finish doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately.

Thoughts?

Jay

 

[nerak]

Hi, all:

I have two Minis that are pretty beat up from repeated drops, accidental flings, a lot of interactions with sand, and several dips in the ocean. The insides still work great, but the outsides are a bit tattered.

As I ponder my next Reo purchase, I'm wondering if the textured, veined, or powdercoated finishes might show less abuse over time. The look of the tumbled finish doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately.

Thoughts?

Jay

The thing you must consider is the anodized finish is actually imbedded into the aluminum. The powder coat is applied and a tough finish but it is on top of the aluminum. I would stick with a anodized and go with the silver if you do not like the tumbled. The silver would show less damage from scratches because the aluminum would match.

Any finish you go with you know it is going to hold up good. But those accidents will happen and they cause any finish problems.

 

[creekside]

Thanks for the info! It makes sense. Maybe I can learn to love the tumbled look or maybe I can make a case. I hate to ding up my units, but like you said, accidents happen. To my Reos, accidents happen almost daily, poor things.

The silver anodized appears to be basically gray on my computer screen. Is it really silver?

Also, if anyone has photos of their silver anodized or tumbled Reos, I'd love to see them.

Thanks!
Jay

 

[nerak]

Thanks for the info! It makes sense. Maybe I can learn to love the tumbled look or maybe I can make a case. I hate to ding up my units, but like you said, accidents happen. To my Reos, accidents happen almost daily, poor things.

The feel of the tumbled is incredible! It is so very smooth! I love my tumbled. It is not to hard to make a slip on protective cover. They do help. They do sell very nice leather cases. But a cell phone case works too.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Here is a photo of both. Silver on the left and Tumbled on the right.

 

[creekside]

Awesome pic! Thanks! Do you happen to know if any of the VV Grands in the first sale will be tumbled?

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

I don't know for sure, but I bet there will be a few. I'll message Rob so he can answer this directly.

 

[redeyedancer]

Hi, all:

I have two Minis that are pretty beat up from repeated drops, accidental flings, a lot of interactions with sand, and several dips in the ocean. The insides still work great, but the outsides are a bit tattered.

As I ponder my next Reo purchase, I'm wondering if the textured, veined, or powdercoated finishes might show less abuse over time. The look of the tumbled finish doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately.

Thoughts?

Jay

Hello Jay anodized mods in my opinion are the toughest finish there is .As far as the powder coated finish they all very in durability .Some scratch while others don't Some are tough as nails

 

[redeyedancer]

Awesome pic! Thanks! Do you happen to know if any of the VV Grands in the first sale will be tumbled?

There will be tumbled vv grands I am unsure if any will make it in the first run

 

[ChrisEU]

Hi Jay,

have a look here: SerenityGear Leather - Specials
I carry a mini in a holster with a belt loop - that way I always know where the mini is, and it is protected from most hazards. The unavoidable scratches just give the devices character.

 

[Big Hitter]

Thanks for the info! It makes sense. Maybe I can learn to love the tumbled look or maybe I can make a case. I hate to ding up my units, but like you said, accidents happen. To my Reos, accidents happen almost daily, poor things.

The silver anodized appears to be basically gray on my computer screen. Is it really silver?

Also, if anyone has photos of their silver anodized or tumbled Reos, I'd love to see them.

Thanks!
Jay

My silver anodized is almost exactly the same silver as a macbook pro

 

[TennDave]

Unfinished aluminum is pretty soft compared to the anodized...scratches easily, though can be buffed out.
I would go w/ the silver finish as suggested...

 

[SammyT]

yep, a drop on concrete is going to bang up ANY mod, the important thing is REOs take a lickin and keep on vapin'. If you want the best finish for a knockaround mod, its definitely going to be anodized silver.

 

[Skeeter T]

I really have to say some kind words about powder coating.

Our machine shop has CNC lathes that have parts catchers on them. These are used to catch the part after it is parted off from the stock material. The parts catcher then transfers the part thru a door to a holding bin. The holding bin is on the outside of the machine and is easily accessed by the operator to pick out the parts while the machine is still running. These holding bins really take a beating because the aluminum and steel parts drop into them, along with liquid coolant used during the machining process, which will soften paint. The holding bin's original paint job lasted less than 2 years. About 8 years ago we had it black powder coated, and believe it or not, it still looks like the day it was powder coated. No cracking, chipping or peeling has occurred.

This experience gave me a new outlook on powder coating. So, don't ever cut powder coating short on durability, and if I know Rob, Mr. Perfection, you can bet the farm he will not turn out shoddy workmanship.

 

[Justice]

I have a silver Grand and yes it is great for looking good after much abuse the tumbled is good too but another option is to polish a tumbled one my mini is one I polished and it looks great still all scuffed and dented but its still looking good for a work beater Reo

 

[dcav]

The silver anodized appears to be basically gray on my computer screen. Is it really silver?

I have a silver door on my mini and, while it photographs grey, it really does shine/reflect light more like a silver.

 

[Honkey Kong]

I have a silver Grand and yes it is great for looking good after much abuse the tumbled is good too but another option is to polish a tumbled one my mini is one I polished and it looks great still all scuffed and dented but its still looking good for a work beater Reo

How hard was it to polish your Mini? What did you use?

 

[nerak]

How hard was it to polish your Mini? What did you use?

Rich, I will answer what I know. Mother's Mag Polish. It works well. Even with just a soft cloth. It does take a lot of work, but it does a great job. I had a couple REO's with polished doors that were pretty hazy. A few applications with the polish and they are now just like a mirror! You might have to use a fine grit sandpaper if you have deeper scratches. I did not have to do that.

I finished them off with some Never Dull. It made good even better!

 

[Honkey Kong]

Thanks Karen! I think mine may be a bit harder, though? It is Tumbled, not a Polished yet.

 

[Justice]

Thanks Karen! I think mine may be a bit harder, though? It is Tumbled, not a Polished yet.

you start the polish from a tumbled finish Rich I used a dremel with a polishing wheel and it took me about an hour