Interest Check. Anodizing Aluminum.

[strangedaze39]

I'm thinking of setting up a anodizing and dyeing tank(not fuel tank, an actual tank) for aluminum for things like: Case Covers, Nuts & Bolts, etc. Really anything thats aluminum and that will fit safely in the tank. It would be at least the side of side covers.

If you don't know what anodized aluminum is you've probably seen it before but just didn't realize what it was. It's on phones, ipods, computers, wheels, cases, keychains, etc. This place has tons of anodized so you can see what I mean.
http://www.ttr400.com/ It's basically used for increasing durability, and coloring/or sealing. It would be perfect for sealing a polish job on aluminum.

Anyone like the idea of anodized parts? I'm not trying to make a "side" business out of this, but would be willing to do parts for friends or people interested.

 

[Tim]

You can seal in polished aluminum? I though it impregnated the aluminum? I had my anodized Yamaha rims stripped before having them polished.

 

[strangedaze39]

Tim, you first polish then anodize. It's actually the most effective method of sealing an aluminum polish. Your right though it does impregnate the aluminum but only so far. It hardens and puts a binds into the exterior aluminum creating a anodized coat about .0002-.002" depending on which method you use(hot or cold). Why I say it's the most effective method of "sealing" the polished aluminum is because it is extremely durable and leaves no fog on top of the aluminum (assuming the anodizer didn't use any dye in his mix). Ideally your wheel polisher should have removed the anodized layer (probably colored right?), polished it, and re-anodize it, to change the appearance.

FYI here's a pic of color anodized case cover:

and here's a comparison the polished is all the way on the left, and the rest is a small example of colors.

 

[johnson_steve]

I've played around with anodizing before. for me it wasn't worth the effort, but I think that aluminum looks best raw I like it even more then polished. I hear Rit fabric dye works great for anodizing aluminum. while I wouldn't buy any you could make a lo of money selling anodized parts. it is a very durable and pretty finish and can be color coordinated to the bike.

 

[strangedaze39]

Hey Steve, yep basically any organic dye will work with anodizing. You can use Dylon which is a fabric dye as well, from what I hear it works better then the dyes marketed by chemical companies "for anodizing".

You said you prefer the raw look more then polished and color? Your talking about just a chemical etched aluminum, then anodized right? I'm not sure what I want to do with my bike yet. Maybe black, raw or polished. I wonder if you could do a gloss black by polishing the metal, anodizing, then dyeing it.

 

[johnson_steve]

No I mean bare, weathered aluminum. maybe take a wire wheel to it. something about it just reminds me of the old fighter planes. they started out polished but then they went in to battle and the polish faded, they got little scratches and dents, the little pits that get that black stuff in them. I just think it looks tough as hell. only big dents bother me. when I redo my motor this winter I'm just going to strip the clear and clean it up a bit. I'm going to take care not to remove the big gouge in the brake side cover because it's a battle scar and it matches the ones on my arm (from the same incident.) If I'm paying for aluminum there is no way I'm going to cover it up with anything, but I am weird like that I think most people would prefer a nice anodized finish especially the colors.