Easy Anodizing

[kiwi]

Hi guys...I have been playing around with doing my own anodizing.
finaly got it working great just took a bit of playing and a lot of
reading on the net. Still need to get a buff/polishing system set up
as EVERY surface mark shows up. As  you will notice in the pic .
I have found the best power sorce is a DC inverter welder as you
only need aprox 12amps per sq/ft of surface area so a avarage air gun part
will only require a few amps . A battery charger will work just takes longer but it has to be one that
dose not turn itself off & on  while charging.

The system I use is as follows,

DEGREASSE.
POLISH.
ETCH..costic "lye" for no more than 30 secs. the longer the less the shine.
RINCE
ANODIZE...for about 1 hour. Trick 1 - The anodizing tank must NOT get hot, keep at room temp.
I used 2 plastic containers" big & smaller"Iinside each other with ice water between them.
I use Battrey acid witch is 35% sulfuric acid..Mix with 50% cold water for around a 20% dulution.
If the part gets hot the  it will restrict its abillity to take up dye.
RICE , RINCE.
COLOUR...up to 15 mins. I have been mixing the dye  4 times stronger than the instuction say.
SEALl....boiling water 10/20 mins.
HANG to dry.

The one thing that gave me the biggest prob is getting a positive+ conection to the peice you are anodizing.
I know sounds easy.... but it an't. you can't hang the peice on a hook as the mintue the hook goes under the water
the power will flow from the hook as it is the easyest path for it.

The neg -  plate in the water must have a surface area as big or bigger than the peice to be anodized
one each side works best.

Its all very easy..HAVE FUN
Pete

[RCnMo]

Good job Peter. I may break the acid out again and give it another shot.

[Jaymo]

Cool. I've wanted to try anodizing, as well as parkerizing.

[Gene_SC]

Great information Peter, thanks for sharing with all of us. I am sure there are many members on the forum who would love to be able to anodize parts on there guns without costing them a fortun. If you want to do a layout and some diagrams. With numbers and measurements, etc., we can place it in the GTA Library for everyone to see and learn how easy it is to do.

Thanks

[kiwi]

Hi gene will do just sorting a few small bugs out.
A guy  told me you can just dip it in custic soda /rince /then in to  warm dye.
not tryed it , but real easy if it works!!!

[Gene_SC]

Ya and that would really be simple..:)

Gene

[kiwi]

Gene   How I see it working- - -  The custic soda would eat the oxadized layer off
then it would  regenarate while in the dye taking up the colour as it dose.

most lightly wrong.

[Gene_SC]

Ok where do I get theC soda and the dye? What brand ofcaustic soda and dye? Or is it spelled custic?

thanks

[berny v]

Gene_SC - 11/23/2008  2:10 AM



Ok where do I get the C soda and the dye? What brand of caustic soda and dye?  Or is it spelled custic?

 

thanks

The C soda is just Bleach ,i used it and work weel ,and the dye i used ,you have differente choise ex:Black i used black marker or any textile color work
Here the result Black Marker pen
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1371/6153690/12002438/175257352.jpg

[kiwi]

Gene the custic soda I use is from a farm surply outlet its used for cleaning
out milking machines on the farm.
And the dye is just a fabric dye its a powder that you mix with warm water.

[Rixtrix]

Caustic soda( Sodium Hydroxide-NaOH) is commonly known as Lye. Get it and the dye at a grocery store, maybe a hardware store.