Finishes

General
A variety of standard finishes are available on all of Saxton’s cast letters.

Cast Bronze Finishes

Satin Bronze

The natural metal color with subtle horizontal or vertical grain lines meets NAAMM finish designation M33-C11-060.

Letters 3″ in cap height and smaller have vertical grain lines.
Letters 4″ and above have horizontal grain lines.

Letter returns (edges) are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish. Satin finish cast bronze letters receive Saxton’s clear protective low gloss lacquer.

Polished Bronze

The natural metal color is achieved by polishing with successively finer abrasives and then buffing to a bright polished surface essentially free of grit lines caused by preliminary operations. Meets NAAMM finish designation M22-C10-060.

Letter returns (edges) are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish. Polished finish cast bronze letters receive Saxton’s clear protective low gloss lacquer.

This finish is not recommended on larger letters with large surface areas (wide letter strokes) due to normal surface inconsistencies inherent in the casting process.

Oxidized Bronze

The faces and edges are prepared the same as for satin bronze. The letters are then dipped in an aqueous sulfide solution to achieve a golden brown statuary finish. Meets NAAMM finish designation M42-C55-060.

Variations in color from piece to piece can occur since this process depends largely upon chemical reactions. The patina will vary from a light golden hue to almost black. When ordering, specify Light, Medium or Dark Oxidized.

Cast Aluminum Finishes

Chrome Plated Bronze

The faces and edges are prepared the same as for polished bronze. Two layers of electro-deposited copper/nickel/chrome plating are then applied. Meets NAAMM finish designation M42-M22-C11.

Although environmental conditions can affect the metallic luster of these products, CU/NI/CR plating can withstand moderate atmospheric corrosion without deteriorating.

Satin Aluminum

The natural metal color with subtle horizontal or vertical grain lines meets NAAMM finish designation AA-M33-C11-R10.

Letters 3″ in cap height and smaller have vertical grain lines.
Letters 4″ and above have horizontal grain lines.

Letter returns (edges) are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish. Satin finish cast aluminum letters receive Saxton’s clear protective low gloss lacquer.

Baked Enamel Aluminum

Faces of letters are sanded to a smoother finish than for satin aluminum (equivalent to NAAMM finish designation AA-M32). The edges are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish.

The entire letter is then sprayed with an acrylic enamel color and baked to obtain a durable finish.

Colors available:

  • 16 standard high gloss colors
  • Black & White in gloss, semi-gloss and satin finishes
  • 4 colors to match bronze and black anodic shades in satin finish
  • Custom colors from most standard color designating systems

Standard Painted Colors

M102 Orange

M107 Red

M115 Dark Red

M118 Maroon

M40 Golden Bronze

M71 Cream

M58 Ivory

M65 Beige

M20 Light Blue

M25 Medium Blue

M28 Dark Blue

M38 Green

M70 Dark Brown

M5 Light Grey

M8 Medium Grey

M9 Dark Grey

M311 Light Bronze

M312 Medium Bronze

M313 Dark Bronze

M335 Satin Black

Colored Anodized Aluminum
The faces and edges of the letters are prepared the same as for satin aluminum. The integral color anodizing is achieved using an acid electrolytic process.

Available colors are Black, Light Bronze, Medium Bronze and Dark Bronze.

Although this finish is available on special request, Saxton highly recommends the use of enamel color equivalents. A perfect anodized color match is impractical in production and color variation between letters, as well as within the same letter, is not uncommon.

We do not provide colored anodized finishes on cast letters over 12″ in height or greater than 1″ in depth.


311 Light Bronze

M312 Medium Bronze

M313 Dark Bronze

M335 Satin Black
Satin Anodized Aluminum

The faces and edges of the letters are prepared the same as for satin aluminum. The entire letter is then clear anodized by immersing the letter in an acid solution and passing an electric current through the solution. The resultant surface coating increases the letter’s resistance to corrosion and provides increased resistance to abrasion.

Not recommended for letters over 12″ in height or 1″ in depth.

Polished Aluminum

The faces of the letters are sanded with successively finer abrasives, then buffed to a bright polished surface essentially free of grit lines caused by preliminary operations. Meets NAAMM finish designation AA-M21-R10.

The edges are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish and the entire letter is sprayed with Matthews’ clear protective low gloss lacquer.

This finish is available only on letters 2″ high and under.

Cast Brass Finishes

Satin Brass

The natural metal color with subtle horizontal or vertical grain lines meets NAAMM finish designation M33-C11-060.

Letters 3″ in cap height and smaller have vertical grain lines.
Letters 4″ and above have horizontal grain lines.

Letter returns (edges) are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish. Satin finish cast brass letters receive Saxton’s clear protective low gloss lacquer.

Polished Brass

The natural metal color is achieved by polishing with successively finer abrasives and then buffing to a bright polished surface essentially free of grit lines caused by preliminary operations. Meets NAAMM finish designation M22-C10-060.

Letter returns (edges) are ground and sandblasted to a matte finish. Polished finish cast brass letters receive Saxton’s clear protective low gloss lacquer.

This finish is not recommended on larger letters with large surface areas (wide letter strokes) due to normal surface inconsistencies inherent in the casting process.

Polished brass finishes are only available on letters up to 12″ high.