Masking before Anodizing

[PRD#5]

I'm trying to find out what to use to mask parts before anodizing. I can plug holes, but have had no luck with masking flats or outsides. I've tried wax, tape, grease and oil. No luck with any of them, they all come off in the acid bath.
Anyone have any good methods?

[mcaswell]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

Try lacquer paint. You can remove it with paint stripper after anodizing.

[PRD#5]

Re: Re: Masking before Anodizing

caswell wrote:
Try lacquer paint. You can remove it with paint stripper after anodizing.

Thanks, but it peeled off in the acid.
Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Don

[mcaswell]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

What kind of lacquer did you use?

[PRD#5]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

I used PlastiKote brand clear lacquer.

[dburke26]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

For caustic blue on guns (process is 295 degree bath of lye and sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite) I mask off parts with cheap electrical tape, comes right off after that, so should be fine for anodizing. Good luck, Dennis

[mcaswell]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

You could also try rubber cement.

[PRD#5]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

Thanks, I'll try it.
Also, the electrical tape works OK, had to use quality brand tape as the cheap stuff peeled off.

[dburg507]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

I use a rubber substance that machine shops use when they make drill bits or saw blades. You would first anodize, neutralize then dye or add rubber if you want silver in your dye scheme.

[mcaswell]

Re: Masking before Anodizing

We recently introduced a product called Mask-It that we didn\'t stock when this thread began.

See http://www.caswellplating.com/maskit.htm

[tmclucas]

This thread is probably the answer to my question, but I just want to make sure. I may have missed reading this in the plating manual.

Masking parts prior to anodizing is good for protecting items that should not hit the acid bath? For example, I have some aluminum motorcycle parts I'd like to anodize, but they have steel pins and bushings pressed into them. Obviously, I don't want to put the bare steel parts in the acid, however I don't think I can remove and replace the steel parts without damaging anything. So masking them first would solve my problem?

Thanks,
Troy