Black Oxide

[BenD550]

Can you use that on Al?

Thanks,
Ben

[mcaswell]

No, just steel (not stainless)

We have a chromate for aluminum that gives a yellow/brown color. See http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/metal.htm

Your other option is anodizing.

[BenD550]

Can you recommend any places for anodization?

Thanks,
Ben

[mcaswell]

We recommend you do it yourself. See http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/aluminum.htm

[BenD550]

ok, ok, i geuss you wont tell me.. dont wana loose any buisness.

But im just in HS and have no clue what im doing... how hard would it be...

Oh and why cant things be anodized white? what is the lightest possible color things can be anodized?

Thanks,
Ben

[mcaswell]

It's not that we don't want to tell you, we just don't know of any places because we've never had the need to have anyone anodize something.

You can't anodize white because the dying process is semi-transparent. If you dyed something white, the grey aluminum color would show through, making a grey color.

The lightest color is probably a light grey.

Why don't you talk to your science teacher and see if he's interested in experimenting with a kit. We sell quite a few kits to science teachers in High School for class demonstrations etc.