why are our markers anodized?

[Jotsy]

i was wondering... why are all our markers anodized? i mean, why not something like powder coated or mebe even just plain ol painted? i mean... cars are just painted, why not markers?

[SpitFire1299]

i was wondering... why are all our markers anodized? i mean, why not something like powder coated or mebe even just plain ol painted? i mean... cars are just painted, why not markers?

Anno. is strong, and very reliable. Its also cheap and rather easy if you have the tools.

[Jotsy]

ok, but if i wanted to, would i be able to just paint it? you know, for that real custom graphics look :P

like, is there some kind of extra-hard-coat durable paint or something?

[Indignant]

Some guns are powdercoated. Guns like Tippmanns cannot be annoed, I believe it is because they are cast steel or something, so they are powder coated. Anno is just more durable IMO and it looks nicer. Paint does not stay on well, but there are many ways to have graphics done, such as laser engraving.

[magman007]

there is also graphic annodizing or annotat. www.absolutefinish.com can do annotatting

[shartley]

Yes, there are many ways to finish markers. Anno (as stated) just is the easiest and most cost effective for most paintball applications where aluminum is used. But you can use all sorts of things/methods to finish markers. There is a movement now seen to use DuraCoat (a firearms paint) on markers and it seems to work great. It provides a finish as strong as powder coating but does not require baking the marker. And I have seen folks use high quality spray paints (standard rattle cans) on markers with good results as well but you have to make sure you really take your time and do it right, prep work is key as well as not going too thick.

I will be probably using DuraCoat this coming year though since it can be used on such a wide range of materials.

[skife]

Some guns are powdercoated. Guns like Tippmanns cannot be annoed, I believe it is because they are cast steel or something, so they are powder coated. Anno is just more durable IMO and it looks nicer. Paint does not stay on well, but there are many ways to have graphics done, such as laser engraving.

cast aluminium... pot metal!
its cheap.

[slade]

cast aluminium... pot metal!
its cheap.

im pretty sure its actually steel, not aluminum of any kind.

markers are ano'd mainly because the anodization process protects all surfaces, and keeps the metal from corroding or oxidizing. and it is not a coat, it is a process done on the metal, and dye can be added for color in the process. the result is it protects both the outside and the inside of the marker, and reduces wear on the internals. and it looks good. any other processes, powdercoat, duracoat, spraypaint, etc. just cover the external parts, and some (paint especially) can chip and just look bad.

[Jotsy]

hmmm the duracoat looks interesting. i might look into it.

now, i've been reading up alot on annodizing (tho everybody seems to want to be paid to reaveal how multicolored annos are done...) and i was wondering a few things.
1) does the part really have to be submerged in a vat of dye? what if the dye is just applied to the surface with a brush or an airbrush?
2) what happens if, after the acid bath, instead of using dye you use regular spray paints, and then the pores are sealed? will the oxide layer form over the paint? will the color not stick and just run off? will it just turn out a great big mess?

[WARPED1]

Anno doesn't "coat" the aluminum in a color, it "soaks" into the metal changing the metal to that color. Powdercoat uses electricity to coat the metal. Paint is just sprayed or brushed on.
Anno also will not chip off like paint or powder. Sure it can get scratched, but thats the metal itself getting scratched.
And for anno, parts do have to be submerged. It also uses an electrical charge to make it "stick".

[Army]

Tippmans are cast aluminum.

Yes they are, don't argue.

[WARPED1]

Tippmans are cast aluminum.

Yes they are, don't argue.

I knew that, or was that directed at someone else? I probably missed the post about the awesome Tippmann(my first semi was a 68 Special, before that, I had a SMG-60!)

[Ace12GA]

Have to agree with the Tippman's are cast aluminum remarks. They are.

[Jotsy]

It also uses an electrical charge to make it "stick".

oh ok, i didn't realize that. it seems the guides i was reading didn't mention it. i guess when they say they removed it from the acid bath, i assumed you had to remove the wires.

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

http://24.237.160.4/files/Astronomy/ATM%20stuff/Anodizing.PDF

[magman007]

ok, annodization is a curing process to aluminum, baisically you dip it in the electro charged acid bath, and it creates a pourous hard oxidization layer, then pulled out of the bath, dyed(or not depending if you want a clear color or not) then the metal is boiled, which seals the color and the pores, creating a tough, metal covering, that prevents further oxidization and fatigue on the metal.

Finishes are all done before the marker touches the acid, whether polished or dust, is all dependant on prep work.