problems with some areas not taking dye

[-AAPB-Eric]

I have been having problems getting a uniform anodizing surface. The parts that im doing will have runs where the dye wont take because it has not been anodized. I believe it is due to cleaning. I heat my cleaner up to 140F and dunk in for 10 min. The water test never passes!

I normally take a toothbrush and scrub. I did this one part a 2 times the first time without th toothbrush cleaning and the latter with the brush. It made a major improvement but still not a uniform anodize grrrr!!! (especially around holes)

I do use RO water, I do spray extensivly.

Im wondering if there is anything that can clean my parts appart from the degreaser?

[destroyer125]

simple green is a good degreaser, might wanna try a desmut dip, and if you wanna get really involved Ive heard of nitric acid dips

[sswee]

Are the problem parts fresh buffed. The way I've found that works best for mine is to clean in naphtha (Varsol) with a toothbrush, then with Dawn dish washing liquid in a heavy concentration. The parts usually always pass a water break test but if they don't, I just go back over them with the detergent.
SS

[-AAPB-Eric]

Alright, ill add the varisol and dish liquid steps in.

I do have a desmut step.

Sometimes the parts are fresh buffed and sometimes they are not.

What I normally do is strip the anodizing layer, buff, and clean. Sometimes I put in the deox step rince and let dry for another day to anodize. I normally take the precaution of cleaning the parts that have been sitting for a few days and put them in the degreaser, rince and begin with the anodizing.

I do my anodizing in a 3 car garage, in one end is my buffing and the other is my anodizing. Im not sure if any of the buffing particles will affect the hanging parts either so this is the reason I re insert the part into the degreaser.

[sswee]

I did some buffing in the same general area and found compound dust all over everywhere. Now I do it out side until I can fix up the proper venting to suck it up and filter it out.
SS

[-AAPB-Eric]

yeah, ill build a hood of some sort and integrate a large fan into her venting out the contaminants for both my ano bath and buffing stations.

The weather here is getting better so ill take it outside (maybe I wont look like a coal miner after buffing).

Thnks for the tips.