Can't get it right.
I'm trying my hands at this anodizing bit but i can't seem to understand why it's not working the way I'd like it to. I'm not using the caswell kit but I'm sure it's just the same.
- using caustic soda for the etching, cleaning it in distilled water
- 6/12 volt 2/6 amp charger
- acid tank with about 15-20% acid to water with a lead cathode
- rit dye heated to roughly 50 degrees (c)
The problem seems to be that the battery charger doesn't show any amount of current going through the system. sometimes the cathode bubbles, but then seems to stop the second I walk away for five minutes. The last run I did the piece took up some red dye but was far from looking nice. It was more of an orange gold and there was little black pores in the actual surface of the aluminum.
And I don't know where to get my hands on this caswell LCD manual.
I think it could be any of these things.
- I did submerge an aligator clip in the acid when it was on for about 5 seconds and the clip turned a bit copper. (Could this have messed up the acid?)
- Should I be doing more steps after cleaning it with the caustic soda?
- Maybe it's the charger / power supply?
Note after this first peice was done I can't get the cathode to bubble anymore.
This is so frustrating.
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