Author Topic: Anodizing  (Read 36309 times)

Offline Jonny

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Anodizing
« on: January 24, 2011, 06:14:31 PM »
Seems plenty of interest with some of us that have done anodising.
Fire away.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 08:31:04 PM by Brass_Machine »

Offline Jonny

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2011, 06:47:07 PM »
Must be 5 years since i last did any sulphuric anodising and at that was rather hit and miss.

The main problem at time was gaining information which seemed a highly guarded secret around 2001. There were only three sites that gave a how to but every one left something out or even told porkies (lies.)
All were different including voltages, acid mix, duration and to my bug bear the contact with part to be anodised.

Most recommend an aluminium wire wedged in to the part, for me a breakdown wthin 2 minutes every time even threaded in. The only method short of trying titanium was aluminium 6082 wedge shaped and tightly screwed in to a hole before and after chemical cleaning with hydrochloric acid.

Have even done hard anodising twice but couldnt repeat next time.

For me 17 to 19% sulphuric mix around 13.6 volts measured in hours. Many can do this in minutes.

One thing i did have to figure out was the dye needed warming up but not too much to seal the part. Tryed all dyes i could gey my hands on, literally nothing worked except the powder the pros use.

Thinking back and may be another porky after dipping in colour for a period of time, it was supposed practice to then boil the part in water to seal the colour. Seems now i should have used acetate.

Over the years did have a few parts come out quite professional.
Heres a bead blasted item

Come out a bit matt this one.

Bit matt this one blue tint opaque most come out purple to brown

One of these days i will get it up and running again, got two PSU 0-30V ones digital twin output the other a backup an analogue from Maplins.


Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2011, 08:44:26 PM »
I have been wanting to do anodizing. I make quite a few motorcycle parts that would look good anodized.

I haven't found enough precise info to give it a shot (haven't looked hard enough yet either). One site (got it bookmarked somewhere) offered up a booklet for cheap. I just may go ahead and get it. Sometimes I need things spelled out for me!

Anyone else anodize?

Eric
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2011, 09:56:12 PM »
Kenneth,

That's the guy! Many thanks as my bookmark is on another PC.

I have the power supply to do it. Just need the chemicals and the color.

Eric
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Offline foozer

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2011, 10:45:40 PM »
Just a note, sulphuric acid can be nasty stuff, and as I tend to jump in the water afore checking for sharks any who desire to play with the stuff at least brush up on care, handling, and hazzards.

One site http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002492.htm

Always and its ALWAYS,  add acid to water, never the other way round.

Robert
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Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2011, 11:07:24 PM »
...
Always and its ALWAYS,  add acid to water, never the other way round.
...

Thanks for the info Robert. Now why add acid to water? Is it because if you add water to acid, the risk of acid splash back is greater?




A quick question to those in the know.  I've seen mention (online) of using DI water for all of the rinse steps in between all operations.  Other places just talk about rinsing with water and do not specifically mention DI water.   

Do you (anyone) feel that using, specifically, DI water is necessary to get high quality finishes without blotches / variation, or is this just a bit of bad info or specific to certain dyes, etc...?

-Thanks, Kenneth

I have seen the same thing. Some mention DI others don't. Any answers?

Eric
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Offline foozer

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2011, 11:32:00 PM »
...
Always and its ALWAYS,  add acid to water, never the other way round.
...

Thanks for the info Robert. Now why add acid to water? Is it because if you add water to acid, the risk of acid splash back is greater?


Thats the simplest reason and probably the best one, term escapes me but acids can react with water and kinda boil back at ya. Easy way to avoid is just always add acid to water. I've played with sulphuric and hydrochloric enough to gain a bit of respect for em. There reasonable safe enough long as some care in handling is observed. Easy enough for anyone who wants to venture to do a google and read up on em.

Be safe today and no sorrow tomorrow

Robert
Ignorance is Bliss, thus I aim for Perfection

Offline andyf

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2011, 04:01:10 AM »
I've done a few bits of ruff'n'ready anodising over the years. Being a cheapskate, I used caustic soda (lye) from the supermarket to clean and etch a satin finish on the parts, and acid decanted from dead car batteries begged from the local battery replacement place diluted 1:1 with water as the electrolyte.

I already had a 0-30v, 20A power supply; not constant current, so I had to turn up its wick every now and again over the half-hour or so that the process took. The electrical connection was via a bit of aluminium rod threaded into a hole in an inconspicuous place on the parts, and sealed in with a fillet of sealing wax.

The resulting surface, after boiling to seal the pores, looked fine and was certainly more durable than the raw aluminium.

Experiments using fabric dye for colouring all failed; I reckon the proper dyes are needed.

Andy
Sale, Cheshire
I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2011, 10:01:57 AM »
...
Experiments using fabric dye for colouring all failed; I reckon the proper dyes are needed.

Andy

I heard the fabric dye can be sketchy. I figure when I start, I will just buy the Pro stuff and be done with it.

Eric
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Offline raynerd

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2011, 10:41:58 AM »
I`m no expert but having the stuff at my disposal I tried anodising last year and posted up on here.

http://madmodder.net/index.php?topic=2441.0

It worked very well - especially the second time. I used an organic dye and that was great, better than the blue dye I posted about that looked washed out. The other piece has been floating around my house for the last year and the colour has fast well. I`d certainly give it another go next time I have something to anodise. Infact, I`ll make a point of it with my next ally part.

Regarding adding acid to water:

Sulphuric acid will "protonate" water. It`ll give a H+ ions (protons) to H2O to form H3O+. This is exothermic and gives out lots of heat. By adding the acid to the water, you are making the acid the limiting reactant (the reaction is in equalibrium which favours/"likes" protonating water (and therefore giving this violent exorthermic reaction)).   Adding acid to water - the excess water is almost acting as a heat sink to dissipate the energy. Adding water to the acid (which you shouldn`t do) - with acid being more viscous (as well as all the equilibrium jazz above), they have less kinetic energy and so when the reaction occurs the energy is preferentially transfered to the water (lower Mr (molecular weight) and more kinetic energy) which causes it to boil and spit everywhere...!!
..... or so I believe .... if I`m wrong, I`ll go and hide in the corner. Sounds good though doesn`t it??  :smart:
« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 10:44:25 AM by craynerd »

Offline Bernd

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2011, 11:12:24 AM »
Kenneth,

That's the guy! Many thanks as my bookmark is on another PC.

I have the power supply to do it. Just need the chemicals and the color.

Eric

Eric,

Your closer to Caswell Plating. Try their web site at caswellplating.com

They have quite the collection of colors. They also sell a line of poweder coating equipment.

Bernd
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Offline andyf

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2011, 12:40:09 PM »
Chris, do the organic dyes tend to come from school store cupboards, or are they commonly available?

Andy
Sale, Cheshire
I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2011, 12:41:25 PM »
Eric,

Your closer to Caswell Plating. Try their web site at caswellplating.com

They have quite the collection of colors. They also sell a line of poweder coating equipment.

Bernd

I use them for powder coating powders on occasion. Looked at them for chemicals too... I will probably try it this summer.

Eric
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Offline kwackers

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2011, 12:41:44 PM »
Chris, do the organic dyes tend to come from school store cupboards, or are they commonly available?

Andy
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Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2011, 12:47:44 PM »
Ok, I am at work right now so I can't post any pics....

When I first started back in July of 2010 I tried most of the rit dyes and sealed with boiling water.  For me the rit dye just didn't cut it. 

This is a run down of what I am using now and it works.  It works well enough I am ready to sell some of the products I have been working on and in house anodize them.

  • Constant Current Power Supply
  • Commercial Dyes
  • Commercial Searler (mid temp nickle acetate (160-190 degrees)
  • Dyes, sealer, ano bath are all mixed with Distilled Water
  • Rinsing is done with RO water.  Both using a spray bottle then dunking the part many times.
  • PH is tested and adjusted as needed before every run ($50.00 purchased on ebay)
  • Weted surface area is always calculated for time and amps to keep close to 12ASF

I will try to help anyone as best I can...

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #15 on: January 25, 2011, 12:59:38 PM »
What do you recommend for a power supply?
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Offline raynerd

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #16 on: January 25, 2011, 05:11:08 PM »
Chris, do the organic dyes tend to come from school store cupboards, or are they commonly available?

Andy
Hit him Chris - he's calling you a thief!

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
 :hammer:


 :lol: - AndyF -->  :hammer:

Errrr, errrr ...

no only joking - I did try some azo dyes which I made (so no not available) but the best I found was the blue is it Dylon blue? I got a packet from Wilkinsons for next to nothing and it binds just fine. I then heat sealed it. I tried a food dye and that was rubbish.

Regarding using deionised water - this is pretty much an electrolysis setup and so if you have any minerals dissolved in the water they could potentially be deposited on your metal work surface causing the oxidation of the ally layer not to form properly / not bind properly.  You`ll end up with areas that have not anodised correctly. Does anyone know the difference between deionised and water produced via reverse osmosis ? I don`t know the difference there and would like to...


Chris

 


Offline andyf

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #17 on: January 25, 2011, 07:33:13 PM »
Hit him Chris - he's calling you a thief!
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
 :hammer:

 :lol: - AndyF -->  :hammer:

Errrr, errrr ...

no only joking - I did try some azo dyes which I made (so no not available) but the best I found was the blue is it Dylon blue? I got a packet from Wilkinsons for next to nothing and it binds just fine. I then heat sealed it. I tried a food dye and that was rubbish.

Regarding using deionised water - this is pretty much an electrolysis setup and so if you have any minerals dissolved in the water they could potentially be deposited on your metal work surface causing the oxidation of the ally layer not to form properly / not bind properly.  You`ll end up with areas that have not anodised correctly. Does anyone know the difference between deionised and water produced via reverse osmosis ? I don`t know the difference there and would like to...

Chris

Thank goodness! I can stop eating this bloody spinach  :lol:

Dunno about de-ionised water, Chris. I just used very second-hand battery acid diluted with corporation pop straight from the kitchen tap. Coming from the Lake District, it was very soft but there were probably lots of other ions swimming around in it.

I've found a dial I anodised,and it didn't come out too badly:


To forestall criticism, I know the marks aren't very evenly spaced; should have hung a bigger weight from the lathe chuck to take up the backlash in the geartrain needed to give 84 divisions (don't ask what for!).

Dylon was the fabric dye I experimented with, but it didn't come out patchy; it just didn't really "take" at all.

Andy
« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 08:27:04 PM by andyf »
Sale, Cheshire
I've cut the end off it twice, but it's still too short

Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #18 on: January 25, 2011, 07:59:52 PM »
No...I only use it in the dye and sealer mix.

Here is the one I got...It will adjust for temperature but only to to 140 degrees...so you need to make sure you check your sealer before it gets to hot.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230419320028&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

The PH on the dye I have has a pretty wide range...4.2 to 6.0...the sealer is 5.7.5.8.  I adjust with distilled white vinegar or baking soda...

Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #19 on: January 25, 2011, 08:18:17 PM »
What do you recommend for a power supply?

Eric, I bought mine from Power Supplies Wearhouse on ebay.  

This is the one I bought in December:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200461533838&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

I will probably step up to this one the end of February
http://cgi.ebay.com/MASTECH-HY3020D-LINEAR-DC-POWER-SUPPLY-0-30-V-0-20-/140499212575?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b667d91f

Both are linear PS units.  I make sure mine is never where the fumes from the anodizing can get to it and I have a diode in line to make sure current never reverses in the tank for some reason.

Once we figure out the weted surface area of you largest parts we can figure out how big a supply you need.

Edited to point to the correct PS I am thinking about going to....thanks Kenneth...the switching Power Supplies don't seem to be holding up well for anodizing or plating...I didn't pay attention to the part number and linked to a switching one...


« Last Edit: January 26, 2011, 07:03:20 PM by deere_x475guy »

Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodising
« Reply #20 on: January 25, 2011, 08:29:40 PM »
Almost forgot to post the pic I promised.

This is a (Clairiant) Sanodal Deep Black MLW...if you start with a nicely polished reflective finish you can get a nice wet looking black from it.  This part was



The part is 55.9 sq inches.  I wanted to be as close to 15 ASF as possible so I set the PS at 5.8 amps and set my timer for 48 minutes.  The ano tank temp was 80 degress.  It spent 20 minutes in the dye and 20 minutes in the sealer.

 
I will probably stick with 12 ASF and tank temp at 75 degrees for an hour...

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Anodizing
« Reply #21 on: January 25, 2011, 08:35:47 PM »
So the power supply should be adjustable? I have a couple of 12v power supplies here. on is 5amp the other is much higher... will have to check.

Eric
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Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodizing
« Reply #22 on: January 25, 2011, 08:40:45 PM »
Depends on how serious you are about doing this.  I did get some rit dyes to take with a computer power supply, laptop powersupply, 12 volt car battery charger....

The samples are sitting on my self.  The finish is soft...color fades....blotchy...but hey they did take dye.  I don't think you are going to want to put the parts on your bike..

Offline Sorekiwi

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Re: Anodizing
« Reply #23 on: January 26, 2011, 12:00:36 AM »
I tried it a few years ago, and have meant to do some more, but other projects kinda got in the way.

Mine was a very low tech set-up, an automotive battery charger, RIT fabric dye from the supermarket, and Lye drain cleaner.  For acid I used new automotive battery acid (for those of us stateside, you can (or at least could then) buy a gallon container of it from NAPA).

I fpretty much followed the instructions from Chris Heapy's website (an archived copy here:  http://nsa.kpu-m.ac.jp/gijutu/kousaku/easyweb.easynet.co.uk/chrish/t-anodis.htm)   :offtopic: but some other awesome info there.

I never got the bits I wanted black to come out very well, apparently thats a common problem with fabric type dyes.  Here's a pic of probably my best result, this is RIT dye and everything red I did came out well.  This is a mandrel for installing a caged needle roller bearing:

Mike, expat Kiwi in NE Ohio, USA

Offline DeereGuy

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Re: Anodizing
« Reply #24 on: January 26, 2011, 08:24:29 AM »
That looks very good.  I did have a few successful runs wih rit dye and non adjustable supplys.  Unfortunately it was after stripping the same part several times and getting lucky with the second or third try.