How Do TheY DO That ???

[Viet Nam Vett]

How Do They DO That ???

Ok ..here's one for the experts or metal heads. How do they Anodize Aluminium and or other types of metal. What is the process involved to get the metal blue or red or other colors ????

Is the metal dipped into a solution...?? Can I do this process at home?

 

[JohnZ]

It's an electro-chemical process; I'm not aware of any "home" systems for aluminum anodizing, although they may be out there somewhere.

 

[RodsnRides]

Eastwood

I think I saw something that Eastwood products puts out for the DIY kinda guy. I think. It may have been powdercoating. Sorry about the wishy-washy answer, but I would start there, anyways.

Rick

 

[John Mcgraw]

Mark,

The anodizing process is very similar to electroplating, and can be done at home. The process uses current flowing through the sulfuric acid solution that eats away some of the aluminum and converts it to aluminum oxide. This is a very hard material that is used as an abrasive on sandpaper! The process leaves little hollow, soda-straw looking microstructures of aluminum oxide on the surface of the aluminum which makes it very resistant to abrasion and corrosion. The little hollow soda-straws are what holds the dye and allows you to color the anodized surface almost any color you wish, even tie dyed! after the material is dyed and then fixed, it will not lighten up over time. There are several companies that sell kits and supplies to do your own anodizing, but like most processes, you have a fair initial investment and need to use it more than once or twice to make it pay for itself. Caswell Plating is a company that I use for a lot of plating chemicals, and they have a nice starter kit for home anodizing. They also are very helpful with technical support to get you up and running and producing nice parts.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Mark,

The anodizing process is very similar to electroplating, and can be done at home. The process uses current flowing through the sulfuric acid solution that eats away some of the aluminum and converts it to aluminum oxide. This is a very hard material that is used as an abrasive on sandpaper! The process leaves little hollow, soda-straw looking microstructures of aluminum oxide on the surface of the aluminum which makes it very resistant to abrasion and corrosion. The little hollow soda-straws are what holds the dye and allows you to color the anodized surface almost any color you wish, even tie dyed! after the material is dyed and then fixed, it will not lighten up over time. There are several companies that sell kits and supplies to do your own anodizing, but like most processes, you have a fair initial investment and need to use it more than once or twice to make it pay for itself. Caswell Plating is a company that I use for a lot of plating chemicals, and they have a nice starter kit for home anodizing. They also are very helpful with technical support to get you up and running and producing nice parts.

Regards, John McGraw

Thanks John ....But I think the key words here are sulfuric acid solution ...........Ahhhhh I don't think I want to get involved with Sulfuric acid. I was thinking of anodizing some small parts but don't want to do any chemical diping or baking. I don't have the space to do this kind of process.

Eastwood makes a Anodizing spray paint designed for polished metal that looks nice. I might give it a try.

Thanks for your well explained reply.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

I think I saw something that Eastwood products puts out for the DIY kinda guy. I think. It may have been powdercoating. Sorry about the wishy-washy answer, but I would start there, anyways.

Rick

Thanks Rick...I did see an Anodizing spray paint that I might try...

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

It's an electro-chemical process; I'm not aware of any "home" systems for aluminum anodizing, although they may be out there somewhere.

Thanks Super John...

 

[Geek's 65]

One more thing you should know about anodizing - it is an electrical insulator. We do a lot of it in aircraft fabrication and have to take grounding (as in RF shielding and such) into consideration when we anodize. You could quickly wonder where your ground went. Which is pretty normal in a Corvette.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

One more thing you should know about anodizing - it is an electrical insulator. We do a lot of it in aircraft fabrication and have to take grounding (as in RF shielding and such) into consideration when we anodize. You could quickly wonder where your ground went. Which is pretty normal in a Corvette.

Thanks..