colors coming out light

[Canute7]

hi guys,
I've started having some problems, things seem like they should be working, but not quite my colors keep coming out light, I just did a piece that I dyed dark red and it came out a mettalic pink, 3 pcs (at once) came out very light pink.
My gut tells me it electrical, seems that I'm not getting the amperage that I should, but my power supply says its putting out the set amount(varies, of course), is this just a bad connection or is there something I'm missing?
Thanks
Canute

[sswee]

Possible bad connection. What was your voltage doing? Using a CC PS your current should stay at where you set it and the voltage will tell you how things are going. The light coloring is most likely too thin a coating.
SS

[Canute7]

SS, my amps move around usually+/- .01, for instance the last part was 6.5 sq in. CD was 4.5, 720 rule said use .20 amps. My read out would move from .2 to .19 or .21, my voltage started off at 4.5V and during the run it moved to 11.1, W/ the 720 rule saying 11.25 I didn't see this as a problem. I ran my part for 80 mins to get .5 mills.
Canute

[sswee]

How did the hanger wires dye? Were they the same or did they take the dye better?
SS

[Canute7]

They came out the same as the part, which is partly why I was thinking electrical.

[acidrain]

Run for at least a .75mil coating... I have had poor results (especially with red and black) with thin layers. With black, I always go a full 1mil.

[Canute7]

Thanks for the info, A.R., will keep it in mind. I am going to TRY a multi-colored piece this weekend, if all goes well(my first). I guess we will see, thanks again
Canute

[-AAPB-Eric]

remember to heat your dye. Some people dont and you will get a light tone this way.

[RedRiver]

Perhaps your electrolyte was too cold which would result in smaller pores. Pores which are too small may not accept dye very well. Could also be that the water in your electrolyte has been evaporating, causing your acid concentration to increase (if you have a very small bath this may occur). If this is the case, the higher acid ratio could be eroding the anodic layer almost as fast as you create it.

Nothing else comes to mind at the moment...Keep us posted.

Just my $0.02.
- Dan

[Canute7]

Hi everyone, thanks for the input.
Just got back from the barn, did my first 2 color part, dark red/fast blue. It came out great !!!!!! I touched it with my bare hand, so I got a fingerprint on it , but I'm still thrilled w/ it!!!!!!!! I used plast-i-cote high heat to mask w/, I had to use laquer-thinner to get the paint off(coudn't find 500 degree, used 1900 degree), but came out great!! My colors came out nice and dark, I left a band about .25 in unmasked, this turned a dark purple, of course. I can't wait to see it in the sun, looked cool in the light in the barn.
I will be doing my first "real" part next, might be a couple of days before I can, will keep U all updated.

Thanks
Canute