Anodizing Question...

[Digler45]

Ok, so i have found a local shop that will custom Anodize for me, but my question is about the barrel.

I want to have custom anodized barrel (color matched). How is this possible? can you just anodize over the existing black, or does it need to be stripped off first. Also, how does this affect the bore? Is this a concern, or does it not matter, as oil will make the pait slide through? Also, the same applies to the inside of the ULE body. Info is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Digler45]

up

[zipity_Bop]

the anno willl be stripped off as with any anno project from there it will be annoed..... and no it will not affect the bore..... ask to see some of there work, you can find many reputable anno sources online

gruntbull
thefool

[rawbutter]

If it's a good place, they should prepare the pieces before the anno... which means stripping off all the previous anno. (I think they just soak it in draino or some other disolvant.)

All your other concerns are not needed. If the anno job is done right, you should see no difference in performance from the way it is now. You'll just have some shiny new colors.

[Jaan]

It might change the bore size a little. When something is anodized the anodizing tends to go into the metal about half a thousandth, and out the same amount. When you strip you have to take off about 1 thousandth, and half a thousandth is added on when it's reanodize. Of course, you double that amount when talking about bore size, since it's round and all. So at the end of the day the bore size will be about a thousandth of an inch bigger.

[athomas]

Typical annodizing grows an oxide layer on the surface of the metal. Basic annodize is about .0005" - 0.001" of oxide surface thickness. That would mean you would be stripping at least that amount off each surface in preparation for annodizing. Multilpy that by 2x due to there being two surfaces across from each other inside the barrel. The good news, is that you will be growing most of it back. The actual amount of lost metal is negligible.

[Digler45]

Thanks everyone for the replies. So in reading all the above, i come to the conclusion that the bore size might actually change, but it not a big deal, as we are dealing with 1000th of an inch? Also, if it is done right, the bore of the barrel/ULE body will not be affected?

Should those be true, it opens the door to a wide range of colors, and possibilities.