Anodizing Process

[PsychoBaller]

Dunno how i missed the first pass of this thread...... but dang.... if u want to talk about scratches (and even some dings and dents) wait till the megameet and ask to see my battle damaged SFL...... getting NASTY....... o wait... already is...

[jeffremiller]

well... this is actually the third time it's been anodized.

Once when new... once with a bead blast finish and then this shiney glossy pimp-daddy job that XPB is doing for me.

Can't wait to see the polishing

remember Carl... Deep and Shiney.

J_

[VanGogo]

Jeff what did you use to blast this gun with?? Sand??!!?? You are so lucky I am not charging you 10 BILLION DOLLARS! The extra prep time, because of the blast and dings, would have normally cost an extra $75 minimum.

Ok on to the "process"

Since Jeff "bead" (more likely sand) blasted his gun, and also apparently used it to drive nails, more than a couple of hours was spent dremel sanding of deep nicks and scratches, hand sanding in 3 stages of all blasted parts, rough polishing, cleaning and checking the surfaces, re-rough polishing, dremel rough-polishing the hard to buff areas, then finish polishing of all parts, including dremeling finish polishing the hard to reach areas. After the surfaces were finally ready, then they are degreased, rinsed, soaked in alkaline soak cleaner, rinsed, soaked in a desmut solution, and rinsed again.

Here are some parts after being rough polished.


Here are a couple of parts that have finished the polishing stages.


Here the pieces have been polished, degreased, cleaned, desmuted, and are ready for anodizing.


As you can see, the hardest, most time consuming aspect of anodizing is the prep work. And with Jeff's gun it was truely an uphill battle, lol.

[jeffremiller]

Since Jeff "bead" (more likely sand) blasted his gun, and also apparently used it to drive nails, more than a couple of hours was spent dremel sanding of deep nicks and scratches, hand sanding in 3 stages of all blasted parts, rough polishing, cleaning and checking the surfaces, re-rough polishing, dremel rough-polishing the hard to buff areas, then finish polishing of all parts, including dremeling finish polishing the hard to reach areas. After the surfaces were finally ready, then they are degreased, rinsed, soaked in alkaline soak cleaner, rinsed, soaked in a desmut solution, and rinsed again.

I only used it to drive a few nails... it wasn't habitual. But thinking back, it might have been very fine sand that was used on some of the small parts.

All your hard work is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks

J_

[Load SM5]

Hmmmm...That did'nt sound like nearly enough butt smoochin'

CHARGE HIM!

[Smokee_2_7]

LOL!!

well, just another update - - Im currently at home when I should be at work (Im heading back in just a minute) As I type, Vangogo is starting the first ano run of the parts. Hopefully more pictures of some nice, shiney, dark purple peices later tonight!

Carl

[Mossman]

Oh my, so psyched for the pics!

[cphilip]

I feel like I am right there!

Someone pop us some corn and I go get the Beer...

[Dayspring]

*pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop*
*pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop*
Where's the Keg?

[Smokee_2_7]

Well, unfortunately the suspense has to build for a little bit longer. This is the way it goes sometimes- - - (as if we all had not learned the lesson with ULE bodies, X-mags, ect.) Basiclly, pics were not able to be taken last night- - And Im not able to go into work today. Im sure Vangogo is up there right now working on the project. So, for the moment Im in the same boat as everyone else- - waiting for the pics on the net.

Phil, feel free to pass me a cold one. heheh. Popcorn would be nice, too.


Carl

[VanGogo]

Dang pass me the 18pack after I get through with this marker, lol. Oh why wait, pass it to me now. Jeff might end up with a polished acidwash splash fade rainbow E-mag if you do. heheeeee

Sorry all, I forgot my camera today, and because I am going on a short vacation starting tomorrow. No more pics (unless smokee borrows a digicam) untill next Thursday or Friday, because me and my digicam will be at the happiest place on earth. Wait, second happiest. Paintball field is first, Disney second, lol.

Doesn't the suspense have you on the edge of your seat?

Tune in next week when you will hear Smokee say, "Wow I didn't know SFL E-mags could look that good after driving nails.

[Ultimator]

I might be your saving grace

If the gun is finished I will bring my digi cam up to the shop tomorrow and snap a few pics.

[VanGogo]

Most laser engraving is still visible. It depends on the depth of the engraving, and the new finish. i.e. bead blast would cover the engraving pretty well for example.

[VanGogo]

Ok, next step after prepping the part is the actual anodizing. The parts, having been priviously racked to run a positive charge through them, are then submerged in an acid bath, and positive current is ran through them, while negative current is ran through cathodes on the sides of the bath. This causes an oxidize layer to form on the metal surface.
Here you can see jeff's battery pack being anodized.


After the ano bath and some rinsing the part is ready for dye.
In this pic, you see jeff's parts in the wild violet dye. I know it looks orange, but it produces a violet color.

To achieve the purple jeff wanted we also dipped the pieces in blue to deepen the color. Then a sealer bath. Then the parts must cure for 5-6 hours.

[Mossman]

Looks awesome

just wondering, when you say cure for 6 hours, what do you cure the parts in? What is the sealer bath composed of?

Thanks
-Sam