DIY Anodizing
The process of anodizing coats metal in an oxide film to protect it. This process is done using electrolysis. Anodizing is often done by manufacturers of various items, but it can be completed at home. Because the process requires the use of strong acids, care should be taken to prevent damage to skin or other materials.
Things You'll Need
- Aluminum
- Rubber gloves
- Dishwashing soap
- Brush (optional)
- Degreaser
- Desmut
- Distilled water
- Large tank
- Sulfuric or battery Acid
- Baking soda
- Aluminum or titanium wire
- Lead cathode
- Power supply
- Anodizing dye
- Soft cloth
Instructions
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Cleaning the Part
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1
Clean the aluminum first. The aluminum must be clean for the anodizing process to work properly. Wash all parts in warm water and dishwashing soap. Use a brush if the part has small areas that are hard to reach. Rinse it in distilled water.
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2
Use a household degreaser to remove all the grease from the aluminum, and then degrease the part with heated degreaser designed for anodizing. Rinse the part in distilled water.
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3
Dip the aluminum part in Desmut for 1 to 4 minutes to remove traces of copper or other impurities. Thoroughly rinse the part in distilled water and be careful not to touch it with bare hands to prevent transferring oil.
Anodizing
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4
Cover the working area in something solid, such as glass to protect it from spills. Have baking soda nearby to neutralize the acid in case of spills.
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5
Pour distilled water into the large tank, and then add the sulfuric or battery acid to make a 10 to 20 percent solution. The tank should be no more than two-thirds full. This solution can be used several times before being discarded.
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6
Thread the aluminum or titanium wire through the part and suspend it in the anodizing tank. Be sure that the wire does not cover much area, as the covered area will not be anodized. Suspend a lead cathode with at least twice the surface area of the aluminum in the acid.
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7
Attach the positive power to the aluminum anode and the negative power to the lead cathode. Run the power supply at 12 volts for about 45 minutes. Remove the part and rinse it in distilled water.
Dying and Sealing
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8
Dip the part into the anodizing dye for at least 1 minute and up to 15 minutes, depending on the depth of color desired. Adding heat can speed up the process, but keep the heat below about 120 degrees Fahrenheit so that the part does not seal. Remove and rinse it in distilled water.
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9
Place the aluminum in hot water and bring to a simmering boil for 30 minutes to seal the part. Some dye may bleed off into the water, but this is normal.
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10
Rub the part with a soft cloth to polish it. Again, some dye may be rubbed off, but this stops after 1 or 2 minutes of rubbing.
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