DIY Anodizing in Toronto

mantisory · 1st November 2007, 02:51 PM

Hey all,
well, after calling around Toronto to see how much it would cost to get a couple heatsinks and the front piece of AL plate anodized (+200$!!!) I am thinking to try it out myself. There seems to be a plethora of information out there and it looks like a good project to try out.
If anyone in the GTA is interested in getting something anodized (and helping out) let me know.
Mantisory

mantisory · 7th November 2007, 12:38 PM

bump

beardawg · 7th November 2007, 01:19 PM

Hello Mantisory
Have you looked at www.caswellcanada.ca
they have all the diy anodizing and plating supplies and info.
Goodluck
BD

mantisory · 7th November 2007, 01:38 PM

yeah, that stuff is even more expensive (their kits i mean).
I have found someone to lend me a rectifier (12V/10A), and i am picking up battery acid today...so now i just need to get some dyes and some buckets to do it in and i am ready to go...

pinkmouse · 7th November 2007, 01:40 PM

I look forward to progress reports.

auplater · 7th November 2007, 01:48 PM

Not too difficult... try to get "clean" battery acid (not brown dirty looking stuff) or it may not take the dye ...

Typical conditions 15% H2SO4, 20 asf ~ 20 minutes or so... run as constant current (let the voltage increase holding current constant)... can be done AC or DC (anodic(+) if DC) 12 volt supply may not be high enough voltage to get a decent thickness... more typically 24 - 36v for decent film growth, if I recall

What color(s) are you looking for?

also, the dyeing usually is done hot, and needs a sealer (boiling water acidified with acetic acid) to seal up the pores.

Disclaimer: This is an informational only post, not intended for production and or processing of any hardware or parts.

JJohn L.

mantisory · 7th November 2007, 02:03 PM

I am not sure what color i want yet...i have heard that a real good dark black is difficult to obtain....i may try using a resist so i can do multiple layers...we'll see about that once i have done some experimenting.
15% H2SO4 - i am not sure what the battery acid strength is (I am getting 5 gallons new from NAPA) - what is 20asf mean?
the power supply i have is 12V DC...I had bought a computer PS for the purpose, but someone on audiocircle in TO has generously offered to lend me his 'vigor electro-plater'....
from what i have read, the sealing can be done just with boiling water, no? The 'sealant' is necessary mostly if you want to have a better protection from scratches, etc?
will post progress pix once i start

b

auplater · 7th November 2007, 02:10 PM

20asf = 20 amps / square foot... 12 volts probably will be difficult to get enough thickness to take the dye well...

vigor plating supply... not enough voltage... plating is totally different from anodizing... u can use 2 car batteries in series to get 24 volts... use light bulbs or other means to control current

Dark colors are tough w/o special treatments, especially with type II coatings...

Sealing with acidified DI boiling water helps to "set" the dye and keep it from leaching... good luck!!

Disclaimer: This is an informational only post, not intended for production and or processing of any hardware or parts.

John L.

mantisory · 7th November 2007, 02:23 PM

okay...I am going to give it a try anyway and see how it goes...I am not sure about the connecting car batteries together...ugh -this 'experiment' is dangerous enough already

...i wonder if i could connect two computer power supplies in series using the 12V/10A outputs and then adjusting current, etc with light bulbs...
B

mantisory · 7th November 2007, 02:26 PM

maybe something like this?
http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=101
b

1st November 2007, 02:51 PM	#1
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	DIY Anodizing in Toronto Hey all, well, after calling around Toronto to see how much it would cost to get a couple heatsinks and the front piece of AL plate anodized (+200$!!!) I am thinking to try it out myself. There seems to be a plethora of information out there and it looks like a good project to try out. If anyone in the GTA is interested in getting something anodized (and helping out) let me know. Mantisory

7th November 2007, 01:19 PM	#3
beardawg diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario	Hello Mantisory Have you looked at www.caswellcanada.ca they have all the diy anodizing and plating supplies and info. Goodluck BD __________________ "Leave it alone, it sounds fine." -My wife-

7th November 2007, 01:40 PM	#5
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	I look forward to progress reports. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

7th November 2007, 01:48 PM	#6
auplater diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: KyOhWVa tristate	anodizing Not too difficult... try to get "clean" battery acid (not brown dirty looking stuff) or it may not take the dye ... Typical conditions 15% H2SO4, 20 asf ~ 20 minutes or so... run as constant current (let the voltage increase holding current constant)... can be done AC or DC (anodic(+) if DC) 12 volt supply may not be high enough voltage to get a decent thickness... more typically 24 - 36v for decent film growth, if I recall What color(s) are you looking for? also, the dyeing usually is done hot, and needs a sealer (boiling water acidified with acetic acid) to seal up the pores. Disclaimer: This is an informational only post, not intended for production and or processing of any hardware or parts. JJohn L. __________________ "...His brain is squirming like a toad..." Jim Morrison

7th November 2007, 02:10 PM	#8
auplater diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: KyOhWVa tristate	anodizing 20asf = 20 amps / square foot... 12 volts probably will be difficult to get enough thickness to take the dye well... vigor plating supply... not enough voltage... plating is totally different from anodizing... u can use 2 car batteries in series to get 24 volts... use light bulbs or other means to control current Dark colors are tough w/o special treatments, especially with type II coatings... Sealing with acidified DI boiling water helps to "set" the dye and keep it from leaching... good luck!! Disclaimer: This is an informational only post, not intended for production and or processing of any hardware or parts. John L. __________________ "...His brain is squirming like a toad..." Jim Morrison


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7th November 2007, 12:38 PM	#2
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	bump

7th November 2007, 01:38 PM	#4
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	yeah, that stuff is even more expensive (their kits i mean). I have found someone to lend me a rectifier (12V/10A), and i am picking up battery acid today...so now i just need to get some dyes and some buckets to do it in and i am ready to go...

7th November 2007, 02:03 PM	#7
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	I am not sure what color i want yet...i have heard that a real good dark black is difficult to obtain....i may try using a resist so i can do multiple layers...we'll see about that once i have done some experimenting. 15% H2SO4 - i am not sure what the battery acid strength is (I am getting 5 gallons new from NAPA) - what is 20asf mean? the power supply i have is 12V DC...I had bought a computer PS for the purpose, but someone on audiocircle in TO has generously offered to lend me his 'vigor electro-plater'.... from what i have read, the sealing can be done just with boiling water, no? The 'sealant' is necessary mostly if you want to have a better protection from scratches, etc? will post progress pix once i start b

7th November 2007, 02:23 PM	#9
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	okay...I am going to give it a try anyway and see how it goes...I am not sure about the connecting car batteries together...ugh -this 'experiment' is dangerous enough already ...i wonder if i could connect two computer power supplies in series using the 12V/10A outputs and then adjusting current, etc with light bulbs... B

7th November 2007, 02:26 PM	#10
mantisory diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: toronto	maybe something like this? http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=101 b

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