how to anodize aluminum

Hey guys, ive been working with some aluminum parts and thought about anodizing them instead of painting, and it will give the aluminum a stronger surface. Now ive read a few "how-to" anodize aluminum at home, but so far i haven't been successful. Anyone have success with anodizing aluminum at home and getting the piece to take the dye?

here is one of the links i have read through...

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

Are you just looking to protect the aluminum or are you looking to color it? If youre just looking to protect it you can just alodine it. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/alodine1201.php

well thats different, that does not actually harden the exterior surface of the aluminum.

I want to protect it by hardening the surface layer by anodizing, then color the surface for a nice finish.

Have you considered Parkerizing? I know it's pretty tough (that's the finish used on receiver housings for the M16/M4 for the military, and I know they can take some heavy abuse...)

Doing a good hard anno may not be a "home" job - I haven't looked into it. Also bear in mind that if you're working with parts that need to fit together, anno goes "half-in/half-out". If you do .010" thick anno, you'll be increasing the surface size by .005" (half of the anno layer is a conversion of the underlay, and half of it is built-up on the surface.)

You can look into Park kits at Brownell's (www.brownells.com,) since it's a fairly common firearms parts finish. Might be easier for you than doing an anno. What are you trying to protect, anyhow?

5-90 said:

Have you considered Parkerizing? I know it's pretty tough (that's the finish used on receiver housings for the M16/M4 for the military, and I know they can take some heavy abuse...)

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No. The aluminum receivers are color anodized because parkerizing isn't possible. The rough finish comes from the prepped surface prior to anodizing.

OP, check out these guys. http://www.caswellplating.com/

ECKSJAY said:

No. The aluminum receivers are color anodized because parkerizing isn't possible. The rough finish comes from the prepped surface prior to anodizing.

OP, check out these guys. http://www.caswellplating.com/

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Really? I'd always thought they were Parked. Is Parkerizing restricted to ferrous metals, then? I may have to look into this later...

5-90 said:

Really? I'd always thought they were Parked. Is Parkerizing restricted to ferrous metals, then? I may have to look into this later...

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Correct. Stainless, aluminum, copper, brass, and steel with too much nickel in it won't accept the phosphate finish. Parkerizing is a phosphate conversion to the surface of the metal. If it can't bond, it won't work.

My buddy and I just finished doing home anodizing on our AR-15 lowers. It came out really good. Let me find out what write-up he followed and I'll post it here.

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html is what we used on the AR15s. They turned out great.
The lower which we anodized is circled in red for the non-gun lovers.

Send a PM to Tom aka old_man on here. I'm pretty sure this is in his repertoire.

the_weirdo said:

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html is what we used on the AR15s. They turned out great.
The lower which we anodized is circled in red for the non-gun lovers.

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Don't let them fargin gun nazis in this liberal ass socialist republik of Kalifornia see that :soapbox:

the_weirdo said:

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html is what we used on the AR15s. They turned out great.
The lower which we anodized is circled in red for the non-gun lovers.

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Looks good. Many who are afraid to "home brew" their own anodizing on AR-15 rifles use Victor at US Anodizing:

http://www.usanodizing.com

Are you and your buddy members of AR15.com?