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A few years ago, I came to try my hand at anodizing. Small jar, 50/50 battery acid/distilled water.
Lead cathode. PS, small motorcycle battery, 7Ah, 12 volts.
Small parts, one square inch.
Lots of bubbles from part, anodizing nicely, taking colours (food colouring) nicely, sealed by boiling in distilled water.
All worked well, till late last year. Last part I did was near 4 square inches and anodizing and colour did not "take".
Just recently, resumed attempts at anodizing. Now, even for small parts, no bubbles, anodize not forming. Will not take dye.
EVERYTHING checked three times. Contacts good, new, freshly charged battery, new solution. Dyes fresh, PH correct. Don't know how much current draw or voltage drop before. Not an issue before, as all worked well.
So, I hooked up the battery charger and the battery in series, and NOW, lots of bubbles, charger's meter reads 2 amps ( on small part) and lots of bubbles and anodizing taking place. Just a test to see if volts inadequate.
So, with two small transformers, rigged up a 24 volts AC supply, rectified with bridge rectifier and big condenser in parallel. Now, I get good action, anodize taking place nicely, small bubbles , not very vigorous, current draw 200 to 500 mAh (depending on size of part).
At this point, it appears that voltage was inadequate. Now, even for larger parts, anodizing is deep and very evenly done. Colours take extremely well. Still, why did it work before (12 volts) on small parts?
Question. Aluminum pistons on small model engines. Anodizing takes but part comes out grey. Not done for colouring but to "case harden" part for better wear characteristics. Works great for this purpose. However, the pistons look very much like they are machined from bar stock and NOT cast. This implies low or no silicon content. Yet, they turn out grey implying they are made of cast aluminum.
Anyone know what grade/type aluminum they might be in consideration of the above?
Lead cathode. PS, small motorcycle battery, 7Ah, 12 volts.
Small parts, one square inch.
Lots of bubbles from part, anodizing nicely, taking colours (food colouring) nicely, sealed by boiling in distilled water.
All worked well, till late last year. Last part I did was near 4 square inches and anodizing and colour did not "take".
Just recently, resumed attempts at anodizing. Now, even for small parts, no bubbles, anodize not forming. Will not take dye.
EVERYTHING checked three times. Contacts good, new, freshly charged battery, new solution. Dyes fresh, PH correct. Don't know how much current draw or voltage drop before. Not an issue before, as all worked well.
So, I hooked up the battery charger and the battery in series, and NOW, lots of bubbles, charger's meter reads 2 amps ( on small part) and lots of bubbles and anodizing taking place. Just a test to see if volts inadequate.
So, with two small transformers, rigged up a 24 volts AC supply, rectified with bridge rectifier and big condenser in parallel. Now, I get good action, anodize taking place nicely, small bubbles , not very vigorous, current draw 200 to 500 mAh (depending on size of part).
At this point, it appears that voltage was inadequate. Now, even for larger parts, anodizing is deep and very evenly done. Colours take extremely well. Still, why did it work before (12 volts) on small parts?
Question. Aluminum pistons on small model engines. Anodizing takes but part comes out grey. Not done for colouring but to "case harden" part for better wear characteristics. Works great for this purpose. However, the pistons look very much like they are machined from bar stock and NOT cast. This implies low or no silicon content. Yet, they turn out grey implying they are made of cast aluminum.
Anyone know what grade/type aluminum they might be in consideration of the above?
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