Originally Posted by
Spider-TW
You will probably need a wire actually touching that broken steel. That looks like JB weld holding the brass piece in. That would explain the difficulties. With ano'ed aluminum, teflon tape, and JB weld, your connection to the steel will not last long if you get any connection through the body. The process will partially strip your ano eventually.
I have actually drilled out a screw, thought I was just chasing the threads with a tap, and broke the tap a few turns from the end. I never figured out what had been used to hold that screw in. A strong glue in the threads seems stronger than most tools you can fit in there. You may need to drill the entire hole and "patch" it again.
As long as a piece of the brass is touching any raw aluminum, the process will work. If not, then jam a piece of aluminum wire down beside the broken metal and attach the power supply to that point.
The process won't hurt the aluminum valve or strip the anodize. It is the anodize process. If anything, it will strengthen any weak or exposed anodize areas. It will however, kill any other metals that can't grow a protective oxide layer.
Except for the Automag in front, its usually the man behind the equipment that counts.