Hi all. New here, and thinking of anodizing.

[TnMadMan]

Hello folks. I'm currently a powdercoater, but I really NEED to get involved in some anodizing as well, but its the surface prep that I KNOW is going to be the death of me. Am I just lazy, or what?

Often times, I get parts in that are already painted or powdercoated. I have methods for removing both of them, but sometimes I have to blast. Anyway, let me get to my point before I stray as I'm prone to do.

I want to be able to anodize over highly polished aluminum, or at least high luster aluminum, if not polished. What is the easiest, most consistent way to get a nice bright finish on aluminum with lots of complex angles, holes, corners, ridges, etc without hours of standing there polishing?

I'm think some sort of vibratory polishing? Most of the parts I will do are about 20" long by three inch wide, so I'd need a large timbler, right? If a tumbler is my answer, where can I get one, or can I make one?

Geeezz, I dont even know if I'm heading in the right direct. I just know I really cant imaging hand polishing complex parts, and all the time and mess involved.

Thanks for any input, folks.


TnMadMan

[destroyer125]

The complexity of your parts could complicate vibratory tumbling. A tumbler that big is going to start at about $3000 and go up from there and will require alittle know how for rigging up something to keep the parts from bumping each other.

Using blasting methods to remove paint or powdercoat will ruin the metal underneath, so all your stripping prior to anodizing would have to be done chemically. You will need At least 1 sealer tank and 1 anodizing tank big enough to fit your largest part.