Diy anodizing small parts.

[wahoowad]

I have aluminum targets too

[sixshootertexan]

I got a project I'm doing and want to have it anodized. I have a power 0-120v 0-3amp power supply I use for titanium anodizing. Think I'll pickup the chemicals needed for aluminum and give it a try. If it works I'll give it a go for the next rifle project I'm designing right now.

[MJP]

I encourage everyone to try, you can't buy the feeling when you get everything right and the parts look just as good as you imagined it to look.

Marko

[George Schmermund]

This project is very interesting. I've set up a plating and electropolishing bench for various small item projects. To be able to anodize and dye parts would be a nice enhancement to the bench's capabilities. I shall follow this thread closely. Thank you for posting the information.

[MJP]

Thanks George,
Could you post some info and pictures on the electro polishing and plating?
That would be interesting as well.

Marko

[George Schmermund]

As requested, here are some photos of the plating/polishing station as it exists now. I had the filter in the attic and made a hood frame to support it above the bench. A 2 gallon Nalgene container was placed into a cutout in the bench. The project started out as just a nickel plating station for small parts. Then came the polishing add-on for dipping and brushing SS parts. The carbon fiber brush that my buddy Bruce made is also shown. It uses a smaller power supply than the one one top of the hood. Bruce provided the supply for his brush. The brush technique works really well for polishing localized areas.

This station is another work in progress, but should easily be expandable to anodize small parts.

[MJP]

Thank you George,
that's a nice and clean setup you have. Looks way better than my bucket and battery mess.
What chemicals are involved in polishing? It's a new subject for me but interesting.

Marko

[sixshootertexan]

I have a question.  I see where they give ways to figure out how many amps to use for square inch but if you use a battery how do you control the amps?

[MJP]

I have a dc-dc booster converter that is adjustable for current and voltage.
Something like 12$ from our friendly Chinese makers of everything.

Marko

[George Schmermund]

There are many recipes for making an electrolyte solution to do electropolishing. The first one we used for testing the brush technique was 22% H2O, 15% H2S04, and 63% H3PO4. Most of these electrolytes have a wide range of usable temperatures. A quick search on Google will be useful for getting more information.

Remember to use the three A's of chemistry when mixing these ingredients: Always Add Acid! I consider a fume hood rated for acid fumes to be a requirement if you're doing this work indoors.

[Gippeto]

Nearly a success...still a little blotchy but getting things figured out. Power went out roughly 45 minutes into it and came back on while I was gone. Oxide layer was powdery at the surface. Dye is an acid dye meant for wool and seems to work good.

Not the same part, but from the same batch;

[MJP]

Nice one Al, good looking airstripper.
Black is the hardest one to get right, and for some odd reason that's just what we want to do. 

Marko