Anodizing...anyone do it professionally, or even at home?

[Jonathan Ott]

Curious if any Giants do anodizing? Do you do it at work (professionally) or have you tinkered with it at home, and if so, how were your results?

I've been wanting to anodize my spinner and landing gear on my WH Extra, but wanting to do a 'custom' red/white (okay, clear)/blue fade where the spinner tip to about 1/3 is red fading to chrome, then chrome fading to blue...same with the landing gear.

Jon

[Greyhoundman]

probably easier to paint unless you really have your heart set on anodizing

[SHANERC]

A good friend owns a small powder coating outfit and he wanted to expand and get into anodizing as well but found out that it is a great big headache to get into. so he subs his anodizing request out to a local company I will get the number from him and pass it to you

[jfstrama]

There are a couple of different places that can supply you with everything you need (caswells, but they are way expensive and Ron Newman who at least sells kits for a resonable price) and I have done this myself for work on low production that could not be sent out.

Now, Not to sound completely negative but read the following carefully:

That being said, there are safety, environmental, and social issues to doing anything like this at home. The chemicals a very caustic (read really, really, dangerous) and not easily contained due to outgassing. A person at home usually does not have an environmentally safe way to dispose of the chemicals.

My recommendation, check your local machinists, most will just add your stuff to a run that they are having done for significantly less than the $100-$200 in chemicals that you need to do it, not to mention power supplies, heaters for the chemicals, 3 - 6 large tanks necessary depending on the type of aluminum, etc.

MadDog Joe

[BOSSIER_ROB]

I agree. I have done anodizing with a previous employer and can't say that I enjoyed it. It's not hard if you're set up to do it, but you wouldn't want to do it in your garage. Your neighbors will think you're running a meth lab, call the cops, and then you'll get nailed by the EPA. It's much easier to search out an anodizer online and see samples of their work to decide on who you want or, like mentioned, contact some local machine shops and see who they use and what kind of work they are capable of and work something out with the mach. shop to get your parts sent off and back. They can do some amazing, multicolor finishes and the way you described having your spinner and l/g are fairly simple/inexpensive.

[gene6029]

Jon, check out Reading Plateing & Polishing.They are located in Reading Pa. I spent 20 years in the electroplateing industry & they were our sister company. They anodized items like the Mag lite flashlights etc, so you can get an idea of the scope & quality of their work. I dont know if they will do a small lot or not. Back when i was shooting IPSC they did a few 1911 frames for me in red, blue, & gold. Worth a phone call....Gene

[btomlinson]

Jon, you need to call Colors INC. They can do specific shades of a color, splash patterns and fades.

I talked with them about some projects I have going in the TAC Skunk Works. From what I see they are the bomb when it comes to anodizing.

http://www.colorsinc.com