Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Anodized aluminium

This is topic Anodized aluminium in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 03-16-2003, 06:17 PM:

I've heard about this technique and I think it's great for give permanet color to aluminium pieces. It's one of galvanoplasty techniques and I'm interested on it but I don't know where to start. Someone could tell me where can I put my first step?
Thanks.

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 03-16-2003, 07:57 PM:

German,

Ron Newman's Anodizing page is an excellent start; I've followed his directions to good results.

I also suspect that Greg Mueller might be a local expert, but that's just a hypothesis [Wink]

.

--jhawk

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-16-2003, 07:59 PM:

Just be sure to seal the anodize well as if you don't it will fade and or become blotchy looking!!
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 03-17-2003, 05:15 AM:

Excellent web, Thank you John!
I will Mark, Thanks

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-17-2003, 09:21 AM:

My advice would be to not mess with anodizing. There's some nasty acid and electricity involved. The best advice I can give is to seek out a machine shop that has things anodized on a regular bassis and see if you can add your item to their's. That way you can get professional results and not have to pay the usually high minimum.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-17-2003, 09:51 AM:

I agree with Greg on that one. It can literally be dangerous to mess with the stuff unless you are ttrained in doing such!!
The local anodizing place, Quality Plating, I use here in SLC only has a 30.00 minimum. There are probably others that have even a lower minimum than that if U shop around.
Mark

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 03-17-2003, 01:13 PM:

Where could I look to get the frames and doors ( Aluminum ) anodized GOLD in color?

The theatre is undergoing a total restoration and the original wood doors were brass coated over wood. In the 1950s those doors were replaced with the regular silvery aluminum type.

The frames and doors are still useful but the color is not acceptable.

Thanks
KEN

Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 03-17-2003, 02:11 PM:

I have to say, having done it, it is fun and pretty easy. By all means take care with the acid and electricity, but if you wear proper protection, I don't think there's a large concern. The web page in question has reasonable advice about safety.

--jhawk

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-17-2003, 03:23 PM:

Gold is a common color for anodizing. Larger anodizers should not have a problem with it. Probably the aluminum has been clear anodized (maybe not) in which case the old stuff will have to be removed first, adding expense. Big anodizing houses have very large tanks and it shouldn't be a problem getting large pieces like that done.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-17-2003, 06:48 PM:

Most anodizers clean the metal first in a less concentrated bath of acid before it goes into the actual acid/dye bath for the anodization. The part should not change dimensions if all is done properly. Its possible that the old anodize may simply come off in the acid bath, check with your plater to see how it affects it. Also leaving the parts in longer than normal ads some durability to them but gives more of a matte finish on that particuluar part.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-17-2003, 08:08 PM:

Somewhere on the film handlers forum there was a discusion on anodizing

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 03-17-2003, 08:18 PM:

That was here but there wasn't much discussed about it. Dave's description is good though.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 03-17-2003, 08:25 PM:

Looking at John's excellent link on anodizing, one can only conclude that those "gold anodized" TV antennas at Radio Shack are really just dipped in some kind of poor-quality gold coating. [thumbsdown]

Posted by Chris Markiewicz (Member # 1415) on 03-17-2003, 08:29 PM:

If I remember right from the old Radio Shack catalogs (when they still had prices on stuff) the antennas were "alodized" which is even better than anodizing [Big Grin]

Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 03-18-2003, 07:32 PM:

Thanks for the advice about mess with chemicals.
Is the Aling-O-Tron anodized? it has a great color coated!

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-18-2003, 07:59 PM:

Yes that's an example of red anodizing. They have many colors at the place that does my anodizing in Seattle. Blue Purple Gold Silver Red Brown Green Black Red etc etc