Idea for custom anno samples

[Justus]

Maybe this has been suggested before or maybe it's already done now or by some other method... but here's my idea:

For those people who do custom anno work, how about doing samples on quarter-sized aluminum slugs that can be mailed out to prospective customers? When I was looking to put up a metal building I got a key ring full of color samples that I could look over and I imagine something like that could be helpful. Just require a refundable deposit to be put down to get the samples before mailing them out. Anyone think something like that would work or be beneficial?

[CatoRockwell]

That would be awesome. It would make it a lot easier when placing an order with an annodizer.

[kcombs9]

I'm sure others will back me up but the one problem I see is different grades of aluminum and how it is prepped has a lot to do with how the anno will turn out.

could end up darker or lighter then the sample when they do your marker.

[CatoRockwell]

Thats understandable, but it's still better than the current solution of: Let me tell you what I'd like and hopefully you get the picture, and hopefully you can make it a reality.

[Justus]

I kind of see the real advantages being in the comparison of a few colors that are close to one another, such as black vs. dust black, etc. Any customer will have to be aware that slight variations due to materials will occur.

[Ratt]

Awesome idea. I would definitely be less leary about committing to paying for a anno job if I could see/feel a sample. I have been in this forum enough to know that if I pay for a anno job, it may or may not turn out exactly like the sample, depending on the grade of aluminum, type of prep, etc. Some people may not be aware of that, and the anodizer can easily throw out a disclaimer informing those people of the possible outcomes.

[East Coast Ano]

Justus,

What you are describing hear is very close to something I tried to do about a year ago.

There were a few problems that I ran into. First and foremost I could not track down a reasonable supplier for raw polished aluminum chips, this left be buying 10 foot lengths of 1.50" x 0.250" raw aluminum stock. I was putting such a great deal of time into the cutting, drilling, and polishing to make them look presentable that that in itself made the whole idea not that feasible to me. I still offered it to potential customers. The only difference is I set it to a flat $20.00 to get up to two chips mailed out; the $20.00 would then be deducted from your final price when you shipped in your gun or whatever you are having anodized. You would send back the chips along with a note as to which one you decided on. When the product was finished I would then mail that chip back to the customer with the finished product so that if they ever wanted any further parts to match they could send the chip as a reference.

The main problem with it on my end was that it was a pain in the *** making the color swatches. I also tried using aluminum washers and a few other things that proved to come out looking subpar without any polishing done to them.

If this is a service that would be in demand it could be brought back...

And if anyone has any ideas as to things that could be used as swatches with minimal or no prep required to them that would be awesome.

Thank you,

Carl Jenny

Maybe this has been suggested before or maybe it's already done now or by some other method... but here's my idea:

For those people who do custom anno work, how about doing samples on quarter-sized aluminum slugs that can be mailed out to prospective customers? When I was looking to put up a metal building I got a key ring full of color samples that I could look over and I imagine something like that could be helpful. Just require a refundable deposit to be put down to get the samples before mailing them out. Anyone think something like that would work or be beneficial?

[Frizzle Fry]

This used to be common practice. I've got a book of 3" by 3" sheets of aluminum that are anodized samples of splashes, acid washes, colors, and styles offered to Boston Paintball by various anodizers (at least 5) over the years that BPS markers (Twisters, Express, etc) were produced... They're about 4mm thick, and haev a polished face and dust back. Some people submitted samples in the the form of small misc paintball parts, or in one case, aluminum chair legs (or at least parts of them) but for the most part samples were in this form

I'd love to see this happen again.

[punkncat]

I don't see it being feasible. With the slight differences in how the color takes in different grades, and how much the finish process affects the final look there would be misleading or confusing. Many anodizers won't even attempt to color match anymore because parts done in seperate batches rarely come out looking the same.

How are you going to send a piece out to a customer as a "sample" knowing that it will be nearly impossible to guarantee whatever part(s) they send you are going to come out looking exactly the same?

And be careful to any experienced annodizer that would challenge that statement....there are MANY fine examples of situations turned bad with people trying to color match parts with companies with a fine reputation (beforehand). You might find yourself with a headache and a half on your hands as a great case of careful what you wish for. I am not saying it "can't" be done, there just seem to be a lot of well documented accounts of it not.

[kobeastly]

Couldn't a person type up a quick letter explaining the process and different possible outcomes and simply send that along with the samples. If you're already sending multiple pieces of aluminum through the mail I wouldn't think including a letter would be a big challenge. Just a simple explaination of types/grades of aluminum, finishes and such. It could be on the same piece of paper as your pricing and contact info.

What is the worst case scenario? You got an unhappy customer who most likely would have been unhappy anyway and/or somebody doesn't return samples.

[East Coast Ano]

Carl Jenny

[211]

there are some low end frames, like kingman, that are cast also

[Frizzle Fry]

there are some low end frames, like kingman, that are cast also

Old Euro mag frames, too... And plenty of those were splash anno'ed.

I don't believe they had the high zinc content of the crap they use to make Tippmann clam shells, though.