Depending on the dye used, anodized parts can be any color.
Anodizing is a finish applied to aluminum parts to protect them from damage and give the pieces a finish that doesn't flake like paint does. The anodizing process is an electrical plating process similar to electroplating. The difference is that anodizing connects the work piece to the anode of the electrochemical cell, whereas the cathode is the connection point in electroplating. The application of a color to the finish occurs after the anodizing process is complete. A wide range of colors are available for the finish, as are degrees of color depth. To generate samples of the colors achievable for the anodized finish, anodized samples undergo the coloring process to demonstrate the exact color and shade of the finished piece.
Instructions
1. Check your work piece and make sure that the anodizing is finished. A good technical way to check the anodized layer is to solder a piece of wire to one end of a D cell battery and a flashlight bulb to the other end. Run the wire over the anodized surface. If the bulb lights up, then the anodizing is not finished. If you find any areas that have not completed, replace in the anodizing bath and continue to anodize the work piece.
2. Rinse the work piece in cool water when anodizing completes. Rinse well to remove any leftover anodizing solution.
3. Drop the work piece into a boiling dye solution. Boil the piece for about one hour in the dye to achieve full color. Boiling for any longer will not increase the color depth. The boiling of the work piece in the dye solution fills the pores on the aluminum oxide surface. Select a dye available from auto parts stores. Commercial dyes contain fabric and water conditioners that inhibit the dying of metal. Select coal tar-based dyes for best results.
4. Remove the work piece and rinse it in cold water. Heat a solution of 2 oz. nickel acetate in a quart of water to boiling. Place the work piece in the boiling solution for 15 minutes to seal the color.
5. Remove the work piece and rinse. Place the work piece in a pot of boiling water for 45 minutes to seal the surface.
6. Dry the work piece and buff to achieve a deep luster. Apply a final coat of wax to give the color richness and to protect the anodizing.
Tags: work piece, anodizing finished, anodizing process, boiling solution, color depth, minutes seal
