Anodising...

[Skeet]

I believe the term is Electrolosis...the Charge opens up the pores in the Aluminium, then the Coloured Dyes can enter the material..then when youve finished..the pores close up...Splash has to be done quickly...while the pores are still open...Aluminium oxidises immediately in air, so if you polish it, it will eventually fade to a dull finish....same as chromium plate, its actually a clear substance, but when applied to a polished or nickle plated surface, it protects it and prevents it from fading..
Probably.
Gaz

 

[joe bob]

well i might see if i can custom mill my upcommin spyder to look like a timmy and then anno it blue flame on clear

this will be done some time from now though

 

[jahlad]

hey pgi....how about a tech artical on how annoing and plating is done?

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by ChrisWhiteSTEL
This is true about the electrical charges creating a new liquid metal colour over the top. Fades are done i imagine in the industry by having a machine that pulls the body out at the correct speed so it fades to the darker under colour.

Not for the faint hearted you just need a diode, cathode, a high voltage generator like a tesla coil and some coloured liquid aluminium .

Simple!

High voltage tesla coil?? - coloured liquid aluminium?? now thats some funny shizznits

And now for some real facts!

To do anodizing (home) these are the kind athings you will need

6 to 12 volt battery charger
battery electrolyte, a.k.a. sulfuric acid
aluminum ground wire and aluminum-foil
No super-special chemicals or solutions necessary to make the colors; just plain-old fabric dye. (Something like Rit dye)
An optional item is nitric acid. (This is used to clean parts prior to anodizing)

for how it is done properly industry here is some good info

http://www.anodizing.org/ - Aluminum Anodizers Council

and instructions for doing it at home (easier to send it to the nice guys at fury sport who do a cracking job from all the work I have seen)

http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/anodize.shtml

 

[Munky]

another good guide on how anodizing is done

http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html