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The trim rings on my TR6 are aluminum. They all have scratches to some degree. A light sanding should take out most of the scratches, but was thinking of having them anodized. Anyone know if this process will take them out and the cost? Anyone have this done, and if so do you have a company you can recommend?
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TR6 Anodizing aluminum
- Thread starter ichthos
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TR3driver
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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Anodizing isn't a new layer like paint, instead it actually converts the top layer of the aluminum to aluminum oxide. So it won't cover visible scratches.
Sorry, can't help with the other questions. I've studied the process with an eye towards doing it myself, but haven't actually done it.
Sorry, can't help with the other questions. I've studied the process with an eye towards doing it myself, but haven't actually done it.
tomshobby
Yoda
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Randall is right, it will not fill any scratches unless they are very small. It will add .1 to 1.0 mil to the aluminum with the hard coat being a little thicker than the standard. Anodizing can also be done in different colors.
This is a tool that I designed, built, and marketed. It has clear anodizing and shows three different results.
The upright on the right end shows clear anodizing on cast aluminum. The slide parts under the yellow handle is clear anodizing on sheet aluminum. The part under the dimension tape shows clear hard coat anodizing in extruded aluminum.
The cost will also include any prep work including removing any previous anodize.
I would check out clear powder coating. That might be much better at hiding some scratches.
This is a tool that I designed, built, and marketed. It has clear anodizing and shows three different results.
The upright on the right end shows clear anodizing on cast aluminum. The slide parts under the yellow handle is clear anodizing on sheet aluminum. The part under the dimension tape shows clear hard coat anodizing in extruded aluminum.
The cost will also include any prep work including removing any previous anodize.
I would check out clear powder coating. That might be much better at hiding some scratches.
I was going to have my old TR3 grill anodized after repairing the dents and scratches. When I took it to the shop they said they could not guaranty an even coating since I media blasted it to clean it. They mention when you blast aluminum some of the anodizing material could be impregnated into the aluminum and the new coating could turn out blotchy. The new anodize will not adhere to any part that still has some of the old on it. Lesson here is don't blast the part before having it coated, let them do all the cleaning.
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There is a company here in New Hampshire that does it. The process is quite labor intensive (expensive). This includes removing all the original anodizing, sanding, buffing, and polishing the piece before the anodizing process begins. The anodizing simply makes it look pretty for a bit longer.
I don't know how much time you have to devote to this but if time is not an issue, you can do the former yourself and you can make it pretty much shine like new without anodizing. You will, of course, need to re-polish on a regular basis since the surface will be much less durable than anodized. Or you can buy new reproduction pieces, far easier and cheaper.
Tom