Anyone Anodize at home? (Calgary)

[TheLocalDrunk]

Hey, Just looking to see if anyone can help me anodize a small aluminum part for me.
Does anyone here play around with DIY anodizing?

 

[Dabbler]

there are a few really good youtube videos. I am interested in it myself. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[Tom O]

Never tried it but it does have that “ Come on you know you wanna “ thing about it!

 

[Johnwa]

If I remember Janger brought some pieces to one of our early meetups.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

It doesnt seem to be that hard.
Currently I have been just using that Birchwood Caseys "Cold Blue" and was going to try their "Aluminum Black". If the AB works then it still would be cheaper and easier to just go that route.

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

FYI, Tried the Aluminum Black on the weekend.
Did not like the result. Over the large area that I was doing the black was too uneven and it looked very poor.
Some light work with a scotchbrite pad was also easily able to reverse everything so it was not very durable.

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

Little Anticlimactic
But I found a shop Alberta Base Anodizing that was able to squeeze my piece in with another job and did the anodizing for me.

Did a good job at it too.

So no home jobbie for me on this one.

 

[PeterT]

what did they charge if you dont mind me asking?

 

[YYCHM]

What are you making? A scope mount?

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

what did they charge if you dont mind me asking?

Originally when I described it. For a solo job they said 80$. I explained it’s a one off and I am not a business and they said they can fit it in with another order and charge me 10-20$. At the end of the day they didn’t charge me and just did it out of the kindness of their hearts.

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

What are you making? A scope mount?

Yep
A red dot mount for a pistol. I’ll post a picture tomorrow when I’m in the office.

 

[YYCHM]

Yep
A red dot mount for a pistol. I’ll post a picture tomorrow when I’m in the office.

Did you create it from a casting?

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

Did you create it from a casting?

Nope, started some aluminum angle.
Covered it in Dykem
3D printed my profile and etched around the 3d printed part for the layout.
Used the mill to rough it out.
Then got in touch with my inner "ClickSpring" and used hand files to do the curves.
Then emery cloth and scotchbrite.
Holes were all located and drilled with the mill.



(I broke my front sight on this pistol during a match which is why I switched it to optics. Had the gear to do it)

 

[YYCHM]

That looks really good! I'm impressed.

I'd be pretty puckered up attempting to drill and tap a frame

 

[TheLocalDrunk]

That looks really good! I'm impressed.

I'd be pretty puckered up attempting to drill and tap a frame

Yes
Yes I was

thankfully I had access to a tap guide for the mill.

also. BUY QUALITY TAPS. Made a massive difference and I will only use quality taps on items I cannot mess up on.