Splash masking questions

[coopduc]

Empire - How long is the acid dip? I tried 30 sec and it had absolutely no effect. I was concerned that longer would start to destroy the cells.

[bomscho]

Originally Posted by coopduc

Empire - How long is the acid dip? I tried 30 sec and it had absolutely no effect. I was concerned that longer would start to destroy the cells.

I tried this technique for the first time tonight per the above instructions..results were aces. dunno if you've sorted it out since coopduc, but I attached results and here's what i did/didn't do::

didn't wait to dry to apply rubber cement.

didn't let it cure completely, was still a little tacky, about 10 min. flung it on thinly and hastily. was so paranoid about cells closing on this piece already dipped once (but dye temp was around 125, which i'm sure helped) that i slapped it on right away. lucky maybe.

i DID soak it in bleach about 3-4 mins, didn't take out all dye and i was worried. an overdip on this would be green. yek. but once i put it in the diluted sulfuric the remaining color leached off within 2-3 minutes and there was no problem in pores taking dye uniformly. happy with the pilot project

[Countryboy1966]

What negative results occur when one:

1- anodizes the part
2- applies mask
3- dyes part
4- removes mask
5- clean heavily with laquer thinner
6- seal

I did this during some trials and the masking went well, but when I went to dye where I masked, the turquoise dye did not take well at all. It was actually a failure. I am speculating that the masking agent filled up the pores on a microscopic level.

When doing splash anodizing, is it better to use anodizing mask or actual rubber cement?

Thanks

[spankey666]

if you masked first, then tried to dye once the mask is removed then thats where it goes wrong. you have to think in reverse order. you can only add mask throughout the proccess until you seal.

so for example: if you want your part black with purple splashes, you ano, then dye purple, mask, bleach, acid dip, bi-carb dip, then into the black. seal, remove mask then seal some more.

[Countryboy1966]

Thanks spanky.

By chance do you or anyone else reading this have an answer for this question:

Is it better to use anodizing mask from caswell or actual rubber cement? Seems the caswell mask it used for complete masking, but does not specify if it can be used on graphics.

Thanks!