Masking before Anodizing

[PRD#5]

I'm trying to find out what to use to mask parts before anodizing. I can plug holes, but have had no luck with masking flats or outsides. I've tried wax, tape, grease and oil. No luck with any of them, they all come off in the acid bath.
Anyone have any good methods?

[mcaswell]

Try lacquer paint. You can remove it with paint stripper after anodizing.

[PRD#5]

caswell wrote:
Try lacquer paint. You can remove it with paint stripper after anodizing.

Thanks, but it peeled off in the acid.
Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Don

[mcaswell]

What kind of lacquer did you use?

[PRD#5]

I used PlastiKote brand clear lacquer.

[dburke26]

For caustic blue on guns (process is 295 degree bath of lye and sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite) I mask off parts with cheap electrical tape, comes right off after that, so should be fine for anodizing. Good luck, Dennis

[mcaswell]

You could also try rubber cement.

[PRD#5]

Thanks, I'll try it.
Also, the electrical tape works OK, had to use quality brand tape as the cheap stuff peeled off.

[dburg507]

I use a rubber substance that machine shops use when they make drill bits or saw blades. You would first anodize, neutralize then dye or add rubber if you want silver in your dye scheme.

[mcaswell]

We recently introduced a product called Mask-It that we didn\'t stock when this thread began.

See http://www.caswellplating.com/maskit.htm