Anodizing aluminum

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carlmorrell

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I decided I want to try this since I have been turing quite a few parts on my wood/metal lathe. I did watch the Brad Gothard videos, and have been trying to figure out the best way to assure success and not break the bank. I went to the Caswell website and am really confused. Almost $600 for a "kit" with no power supply, heater, sulfuric acid or dyes. Seems like a pathetic kit. Am I missing something? Has anyone here done this?

After all I read I am just going to buy a power supply, and go to an auto parts store to get battery acid.
 
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Have you given powdercoating any thoughts. There are a ton of different effects and color choices out there. If you are doing small things you can get into a toaster oven, that would be the way I would go.
 
During part of my career I managed an electroplating lab (really more of a production shop than a lab). We plated silver, gold, nickel, tin, and tin-lead. We sent all of our aluminum out for anodizing rather than expanding our capabilities, especially waste treatment and disposal. Since anodizing creates an oxide layer that is non-conductive, anodizing requires rack plating where each individual part has an electrical connection to a power supply - usually made using titanium fixtures as titanium will conduct electricity but will not anodize itself.

The place we used didn't have to heat their baths, they had to cool them to maintain 70F for proper operation. We mainly used a gold, hard-coat anodizing to provide a non-conductive housing for wirewound power resistors (just Google "Dale RH 250" if you would like to see one.

Personally, I wouldn't attempt anodizing especially at home. Handling and proper disposal of the chemicals involved is the primary reason, that and the fact that the process is a little dangerous. For example, you need to cover (or float ping-pong balls) on the surface of the acid tank to prevent acid mist from bubbling during the process and I think a really good ventilation system is a must.

If you choose to pursue this, please, please be very, very careful.

Dave
 
We had some fun with anodizing back around 2010 when I was in Florida. Well, at least I had fun. But I've forgotten most of what I learned from it. I still have a couple of pens. We set up everything on a table on my Lanai, and avoided breathing fumes. I recall using a 12V battery, and a 2amp trickle charger, a plastic tub for the acid bath, a lead plate with leads from the battery, a hot plate with pan of water, another pan of water for cooling.

There was some expense involved. Titanium wire, acid which I think I got from Radio Shack, not sure. Pans from Goodwill. We got all of our information from Brad. He was very helpful, but I would not have pulled this off without guidance from my friend there. It was a good one time experience. The second time convinced me to stay with what I knew about making pens, and stay out of the laboratory. 😄

I think Brad's videos were pretty well made. Sorry I'm not much help, but at least I may have answered your question. It can be done, and for a lot less than $600.00. Be Safe!

 
i used Brad's tips and was quite successful. I'm a retired science teacher so I'm used to safety precautions when working with nasty chemicals. Ventilation, rubber gloves and good eye protection!
Second Anodized Cigar 7-12-16.JPG
 
rixstix said:
Anodizing aluminum is a hazardous nightmare for individual/small scale operations. JT offered an attractive suggestion.
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Yeah, I have been powdercoating for decades. I broke my first gun, and am on my second gun and now have a Jegs powdercoating oven, it could roast a turkey. I went through 2 toaster ovens.. I have also been successful with ceramic (Ceratoke) coatings. Attached pic of a model airplane engine Cerakoted with three different colors.
 

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carlmorrell said:
Yeah, I have been powdercoating for decades. I broke my first gun, and am on my second gun and now have a Jegs powdercoating oven, it could roast a turkey. I went through 2 toaster ovens.. I have also been successful with ceramic (Ceratoke) coatings. Attached pic of a model airplane engine Cerakoted with three different colors.
Click to expand...
WOW, a McCoy redhead, but not the famous '60, but the 19 will do!
 
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