SpudFiles

Hey,

I'm rebuilding the mini cobra, except before assembly each aluminum part will be anodized. I've been doing tests using a caustic solution with dyes and the aluminum is accepting the dye, but not completely.

I'd rather avoid using sulfuric acid if I can, so is there any acceptable substitute? All I want to do is work a dye into the metal, I can then varnish it wafterwards if needed.

Has anyone tried something other than sulfuric? Citric? Boric? Oxalic? Acetic? Could a caustic mixture be used for this purpose?

The anodizing looks nice so far, but it's not complete. Would it look better if I went over it with steel wool or something before..

Thanks guys

inonickname wrote:Hey,

I'm rebuilding the mini cobra, except before assembly each aluminum part will be anodized. I've been doing tests using a caustic solution with dyes and the aluminum is accepting the dye, but not completely.

I'd rather avoid using sulfuric acid if I can, so is there any acceptable substitute? All I want to do is work a dye into the metal, I can then varnish it wafterwards if needed.

Has anyone tried something other than sulfuric? Citric? Boric? Oxalic? Acetic? Could a caustic mixture be used for this purpose?

The anodizing looks nice so far, but it's not complete. Would it look better if I went over it with steel wool or something before..

Thanks guys

Have you looked it up on Google. Google is your friend. Full instructions are here.
http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize.html

Technician1002 wrote:

inonickname wrote:Hey,

I'm rebuilding the mini cobra, except before assembly each aluminum part will be anodized. I've been doing tests using a caustic solution with dyes and the aluminum is accepting the dye, but not completely.

I'd rather avoid using sulfuric acid if I can, so is there any acceptable substitute? All I want to do is work a dye into the metal, I can then varnish it wafterwards if needed.

Has anyone tried something other than sulfuric? Citric? Boric? Oxalic? Acetic? Could a caustic mixture be used for this purpose?

The anodizing looks nice so far, but it's not complete. Would it look better if I went over it with steel wool or something before..

Thanks guys

Have you looked it up on Google. Google is your friend. Full instructions are here.
http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize.html

That's the point. I don't want to use sulfuric acid. I don't want to form aluminum hydrate, I simply want to work the dye into the metal.

sodium hydroxide? it solves all of my problems.... haha

brogdenlaxmiddie wrote:sodium hydroxide? it solves all of my problems.... haha

Great, that reacts with aluminum.

The new chamber is bubbling away in the solution, so i'll check soon and see what i end up with.

Did you seriously put the aluminum in the sodium hydroxide?
I pray to god you didn't. If you did you need to take it out immediatly and get everyone out of your house. Keep all electricity and flames away from it!
hahaha

lol brogdenlaxmiddie... that was stupid

Course not brog, I aint retarded.

Caustic mixes don't work great, back to H2SO4 soon

Why not just paint it?

mark.f wrote:Why not just paint it?

Paint looks rubbish, scratches and is not even unless it is airbrushed. If I were to paint it I'd coat it with epoxy and a colored powder. This one will just be polished and varnished.

Scroll down to Aluminum Black...
Looks a lot cheaper than anodizing kits.

They also have "Brass Black" there, which I plan to use sometime, as well as blueing for steel or "Browning" for antique stuff.

It's probably a good idea to polish it to a shiny luster first using a buffer wheel and buffing compounds.

There's a technique I've been wanting to try for certain spots, where a cork fastened to a rod, inserted in a dremel, drill or other spinny thing, dipped in valve grinding compound or abrasive polish, then the circular swirls are overlapped...looks cool on knives, gun hammers, motorcycle frames/ parts, dash boards etc. IMO. 8)

inonickname wrote:If I were to paint it I'd coat it with epoxy and a colored powder. This one will just be polished and varnished.

They make epoxy coatings for that, albeit not in your desired color range, probably.

And paint, when applied correctly, and matched to it's application, shouldn't peel or scratch easily or at all.

You could also try powder coating it if you're really ambitious.

I've already polished the parts and begun epoxying so it's a little late..

Maybe next time

well you didn't mention chromic acid

You can purchase pre anodized tubing for very cheap. You can look around and might find some in blue. Tubing that small would only cost a few bucks for sure.