Multicolor ?

[SDE]

After your first color when you mask (rubber cement ect.) what is used to remove the first dye? And my main ? is how do you guys handle the part when removing the masking before sealing. Is it ok to touch the part?
(bare hands, gloves)
Does this cause any ill affects?
If someone would give me a step by step on multicolor it would be greatly appreciated. Plus 1 more ? what is involved in acid wash anodizing. I hope asking for this info is not like pulling teeth most anodizers do not like to give there info up. I am comfortable with my line and am ready to get more advanced. Thanks

[NeoMoses]

http://web.umr.edu/~bpryor/anodize/fade_anodizing.pdf

Many answers lie in the above paper. The short answer: bleach will remove the dye from an unsealed part.

As yet, I haven't tried acid wash anodizing, but if there's enough interest I'll start working on a howto for that, too.

[SDE]

I tried the link and it does not work. Could you comform the link. Thanks

[NeoMoses]

the link works fine for me. try it again.

[SDE]

OK it worked today. Some good info on fading but still wondering how to handle the parts when doing multicolor masking (removing masking) before sealing. It seens to me you do not want to handle a unsealed anodized part (finger prints, oil) so how do you guys do it?

[NeoMoses]

I handle the parts as little as possible when dyeing. I keep the electode attached while dyeing, which gives me a place to hold on to.

When masking and/or fading which requires some contact, I recommend latex gloves, washed thoroughly (some have powder on them). If you don't have any latex gloves, thoroughly washing your hands will remove many, but not all of the oils.

To remove the rubber cement masking, I usually use a toothpick to get it started, then tweezers and/or my fingers to finish removing it. The toothpick will not scratch your anodized surface.

Hope it heps!

[M_D]

I was doing some experimenting the other day, and found that warm water and baking soda seemed to remove the dye (black) from unsealed parts (slower to work than bleach, may need to soak and rinse several times). Since I haven't extensively played around with it, I can't offer any more comments but thought I would mention it anyhow. Bleach is nastier (In my opinion) compared to the soda, so I will do some more experimenting as time allows.