What Is Brushed Aluminum Vinyl?

Have you dreamed of applying the impactful, modern look of brushed aluminum to your car's dashboard, a set of old cabinets or a worn and scratched appliance? Using brushed aluminum vinyl makes it easy to get the style you want. This vinyl film closely mimics the eye-catching look of brushed aluminum — and other metals like chrome, bronze and gold — without the time and cost of installing brushed aluminum.

No matter your experience with wraps, brushed aluminum vinyl film is a user-friendly product that lets you express your creativity and customize your car, boat or appliance. It's a fast and affordable way to get the look of brushed aluminum or other metals. Let's take a closer look at what brushed aluminum wraps are and why they're a fantastic choice.

What Is Vinyl Wrapping?

Covering a car or another object with a vinyl wrap is known as wrapping. The film can feature graphics, words and other details, or it can be solid to change the color of a car or produce a new texture or finish. Using wrapping on your vehicle or any other object can help you achieve a new look without paying for a new one.

Specifically, brushed aluminum vinyl is available in many sizes, so finding what you need for your project is easy. Buy it by the sheet, by the roll or in a kit specially made for your project, like motorcycle wraps, truck wraps, van wraps or even go-kart wraps.

Why Choose Vinyl Wraps for a Brushed Aluminum Look?

The look of brushed aluminum is impressive — it's created by scoring aluminum sheets and polishing them to a unidirectional satin finish. The scoring makes the aluminum more susceptible to corrosion, so a clear sealant is usually applied. A custom brushed aluminum dash costs hundreds of dollars and requires an experienced installer, but you can get the same look with a brushed aluminum dash kit you can easily apply yourself.

Using brushed aluminum vinyl film offers a number of advantages, including:

1. Features a Realistic Brushed Metal Appearance

Even though brushed aluminum vinyl is easy to apply, you aren't compromising on the end result. This type of vinyl is indistinguishable from the real thing, and it stands up to the closest scrutiny. That's because of a three-dimensional, raised grain you can feel, partnered with metal flecks embedded in the finish. Together, they form an effect that's as impressive as it is durable.

2. Comes in a Variety of Colors

Whether you want a classic look or a more vibrant appearance, brushed aluminum vinyl comes in tones like red, gold, teal, blue, black, green, gunmetal — and of course, traditional gray and silver.

3. Features Easy Installation

With brushed aluminum vinyl, there's no ripping out dashes, door panels or trim. The ease of installation means enjoying your new item in a single afternoon -- and maybe even sooner. These films go on easily due to specially formulated, air-release adhesives, meaning you won't struggle with bubbles during the installation process.

4. Requires Minimal Preparation

It takes very little to get surfaces ready for the application of brushed aluminum vinyl. In fact, surfaces only need to be clean and dry. Before starting your project, all you'll need to do is run your vehicle through the car wash or hit it with the pressure washer to ensure it's free from grease, mud and dirt and allow it to dry completely. That's it! Simply wipe down smaller objects with a household product that cuts grease.

5. Doesn't Need Special Tools

Applying brushed aluminum vinyl film doesn't mean spending a fortune on special tools, either. All you really need to get the job done is a pair of scissors or a cutting tool, a squeegee and a heat gun or hairdryer. If you need to pick up a few tools, Rvinyl has everything to make the process as simple as possible.

6. Doesn't Have Harsh Chemicals

Because there are no noxious fumes or toxic substances, there's no need to worry about what you're breathing in or touching when you install your brushed aluminum vinyl. It's a safe, non-toxic product, so you don't have to purchase special equipment or take any precautions besides being careful with your heat gun and cutting tools.

7. Doesn't Damage Surfaces

Don't worry about the vinyl film damaging car paints and other finishes after the application. Applying brushed aluminum wraps to your vehicle won't violate your lease, lower your car's resale value or increase your insurance payments.

8. Offers Removability

If you like changing the look of your car or other items regularly, vinyl films are for you. These films are almost as easy to remove as they are to install, so you can achieve a brand-new effect any time the mood strikes you.

9. Involves Easy Cleanup

With no messy liquids or sticky glue to contend with after you finish your project, cleanup might be the only thing easier than the installation itself. All you'll need to do is gather up and discard any scraps you trimmed off and put your scissors, squeegee and heat gun or hairdryer away.

10. Provides Affordability

This kind of vinyl is far less expensive than its metal counterparts — and vinyl films are very affordable in general, especially considering the wide variety of sizes you can order. Therefore, you never have to waste money buying more than you need.

11. Has Extensive Durability

Thanks to its resistance to scratches and water damage, brushed aluminum vinyl provides durability. It requires almost no maintenance to keep it looking brand-new. All you need to do to care for brushed aluminum vinyl is wipe it clean when necessary. With minimal effort, you'll easily enjoy your new item for many years to come.

12. Lets You Experiment With Style

Have you always wanted a teal-brushed aluminum guitar or a brushed bronze and blue golf cart? What about a gunmetal skin for your PC? Whether you use them on your car, truck, motorcycle, boat, refrigerator, drum set or something else, with brushed metal vinyl films, you'll always stand out from the crowd!

Types and Brands of Brushed Aluminum Wraps

Rvinyl has an extensive stock of brushed metal vinyl films, located conveniently in one place so our customers have plenty of products to choose from:

Rwraps Brushed Aluminum Vinyl

Rwraps brushed aluminum vinyl allows you to customize your car or boat inside and out without breaking your budget or having to learn how to use complex tools and machinery. We offer a range of colors and finishes, and our textured metal wraps feel like the real thing. You can choose from a selection of colors to complement your vehicle's paint job or complete your project just the way you envisioned it.

3M Brushed Metallic Wraps

3M is a well-known and respected name in vinyl wrap industry for good reason. The 3M 1080 series of brushed metallic wraps is backed by decades of research and development. These wraps are best-sellers you can depend on for quality, performance, longevity and variety. One of the big advantages of this series of products is that it allows you to slide and reposition the vinyl without it bubbling or sticking to itself — and that's especially nice for those new to working with vinyl wraps.

The 3M 1080 series offers the following colors and finishes:

• Brushed aluminum
• Brushed black metallic
• Brushed steel
• Brushed blue steel
• Brushed titanium

Avery Dennison SW900 Brushed Metal Vinyls Films

Avery Dennison has over 30 years of experience in manufacturing adhesive materials, and it produces high-quality brushed metallic vinyl wraps on par with those made by 3M. The Avery Dennison SW900 brushed metal series offers the following selection of colors and finishes:

• Brushed aluminum
• Brushed black
• Brushed steel
• Brushed bronze
• Brushed titanium

ORACAL 975BR Brushed Series Vinyl

ORACAL's 975BR series offers extremely thick and durable vinyl wraps that are DIY- and beginner-friendly. It also provides an impressive range of colors and finishes that stand out as unique, though ORACAL isn't the most budget-friendly option available. This collection includes the following colors and finishes:

• 975BR Deep Blue
• 975BR Gold
• 975BR Graphite
• 975BR Silver Gray
• 975BR Tin

Uses for Brushed Aluminum Vinyl Wraps

Brushed metal vinyl isn't just for cars anymore! Vinyl wraps and films are nothing if not versatile. They're easy to use and can be applied to almost any hard surface. Some of the most popular uses for brushed metal vinyl films include:

Automotive Applications

Auto enthusiasts were some of the first people to realize the huge potential of vinyl wraps, and brushed aluminum vinyl wraps continue to enjoy immense popularity among those who love customizing their cars.

Car Exterior

Like any other vinyl film, you can use brushed aluminum vinyl to cover your car completely. Apply it to the hood, doors, fenders, roof, lid and bumper covers. It can function as a new paint job without the expense or commitment — not to mention, with brushed aluminum vinyl, you can achieve an effect that would be impossible with paint. It's also possible to apply brushed aluminum wraps to only certain parts of the car, like the hood or roof, to achieve your desired look.

A vinyl wrap acts as a protective layer when properly applied and cared for, keeping the elements away from your car's paint job. Plus, you don't have to own a car to enjoy the look and protectiveness of wrapping. For example, brushed aluminum vinyl wraps are also great for vehicles like motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, trailers, food trucks and more.

Unlike paint jobs, vinyl wraps don't reduce your car's resale value, void warranties or affect your insurance policy, so you can apply them guilt-free.

Car Dash and Interior Applications

Adding some impact and personality to a car interior is one of the most popular uses for brushed aluminum vinyl. Apply it to the majority of the interior or only the parts you choose. Beyond making a temporary change or getting a new look to enjoy, using vinyl film to revitalize your car's interior has several additional advantages. 

This kind of film protects your interior against spills, moisture, dust and dirt. It can also help hide scratches and other flaws, and if new damage occurs, it's easy to correct by simply replacing the affected section with new vinyl.

There are many choices when using brushed aluminum vinyl on your interior — you can always purchase the size and quantity of vinyl you need in sheet form or opt for one of our dash kits created specifically for the make and model of your vehicle.

Marine Applications

Sailors customizing their vessels is a long and proud tradition. Creating a boat that matches your personal style is easier than ever before. Get a boat wrap in brushed metallics for a look that will truly command attention on the water. Use brushed aluminum vinyl for a complete boat wrap job or select any combination of colors and finishes to add interest to the interior and berth, gunwale, hull or anywhere else on your motorboat, pontoon boat, yacht or other vessel.

Signs

Achieving a brushed metal look for signs is easy with brushed metallic vinyl — and you're not limited to only aluminum, either. Metallic vinyl wraps are available in brushed gold, brushed chrome, gold leaf, silver leaf, diamond plate and many more options to create eye-catching signs customers won't be able to ignore. Overall, vinyl film has a wide range of uses to customize signs in both commercial spaces and your home.

Aluminum Vinyl Is a Versatile Material — Just Use Your Imagination

While auto enthusiasts make up the majority of those taking advantage of the great appearance and easy installation of brushed aluminum vinyl, people in other fields have recently begun to discover the versatility of these products.

You can apply a brushed aluminum wrap to nearly any hard, non-porous surface. Plus, it's non-damaging and removable, making it an excellent choice for appliances, cabinetry, remodeling projects and artistic projects, including: 

• Home remodeling projects like backsplashes, countertops and cabinets 
• Furniture, entertainment centers, shelving and walls
• Appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and more
• Skins for video game consoles, computers, laptops, tablets and stereo equipment 
• Customization for musical instruments like guitars, drum sets, violins and more

After you finish your project, don't forget to send us pictures of how you used your brushed aluminum vinyl wraps. We'd love to see your project, and we're even offering a cashback rebate when you snap four or five pictures and include them with a brief, three- or four-sentence review of the product you chose. We're always on the lookout for new ways to use these versatile metallic films.

To learn more about brushed aluminum vinyl wraps and a wide selection of other vinyl wraps, explore our inventory, or to see how installation is done and learn tips and tricks from the pros, check out our blog.

Check out our vinyl wrap FAQs if you have further questions.