Aluminium blacking

[ovenpaa]

I need to black some aluminium posts I have made, I know I can buy some blacking but does anyone know how you make the stuff? I may have a few more to do and anodizing is not really an option.

[ovenpaa]

Anyone?

[R.G.C]

I need to black some aluminium posts I have made, I know I can buy some blacking but does anyone know how you make the stuff? I may have a few more to do and anodizing is not really an option.

Ovenpaa,

Thought you had replies to this.

The only simple posibility is black anodising.

Exists in varius possibilities depending first on the oxyde coat thickness exprimed in micrometres:

-Plain ecorative anod. noy very wear resistant

-Hard

-Optical finish in various qualities. Out os an amteur possibilities and probably expensie in small quantities.

You should not have much difficulty to find an anodiser in industrial UK, the difficulty might be his willingness to work on small quantities.

Now, if you wish to experiment, you need a DC low voltage source and mean to control it. You should not have dififculty to find details of the operation , chemcals needed, etc on internet.. Too much for a post here, and my eventual ex-professional documentation is in frech!!!.

Copper-based Al alloys (2000 series) dooes not nicely anodise too well, but the common 6000 series no problem. Also zinc alloyed (7000 series), the hardest of all the alloys takes anod. quite well.

R.G.C.

[TattooedGun]

apparently Birchwood Casey makes something akin to bluing stuff for aluminium: http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/metal/lumiclad.html

no idea if it works or whats in it though...

[ovenpaa]

Hi Robert, I have the low DC supply and can control it quite well, my concern is the chemicals needed for anodising so I was looking for a basic blacking alternative for cosmetic purposes on 6000 series.

I can see I need to look closer at the anodising process and see just how toxic/dangerous it is!

Many thanks.

[R.G.C]

apparently Birchwood Casey makes something akin to bluing stuff for aluminium: http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/metal/lumiclad.html

no idea if it works or whats in it though...

Ovepaa,

It seem to ne a derivate of the Aloxine process. 1,5 microns th. as compared to mini 5 microns of decorative anod.

Does not create a hard surface as Al oxyde does in anodic oxydation.

Lot o what they say is BlaBlaBla.

Now, if you have no other possiility, try it and I will be very interested with the results? Now I doubt you will have the poissibility to import the products. Yhru md ùzy well not sell o exports.

Finally, they recommend to use plain water for rinsing??I have always learned it must be distilled or purified water, otherwise, you will have a very atistic modern art surface aspect, not the clean one they claim.

R.G.C

[ovenpaa]

It sounds very hit and miss doesn’t it?

I just read this basic description which is not as bad as thought it was.

1. Clean the aluminum parts.
2. Degrease the aluminum parts.
3. De-Smut the aluminum parts.
4. Anodize in the acid bath at 12 amps/square foot for 45 minutes. Keep temp at 70-72 degrees (F).
5. Remove parts from acid bath and rinse with distilled water.
6. Dye parts (if desired) in warm dye, ~100 - 140 degrees (F).
7. Seal parts by placing in boiling distilled water for 20-30 minutes.

It should be assumed that the parts are thoroughly rinsed in distilled water between each step.

I will do some more research.