Anodize or not

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

Anodize or not

Postby Sonetpro » Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:28 am

I am ordering my aluminum and think I am going to order anodized. It costs 25% more but I think it would weather better. I frequent the beach alot. Any thoughts?
}><)))'> ~--------------·´¯) SteveT
You don't know what the limit's are until you take it there.ImageImageImage
User avatar
Sonetpro
Site Admin
 
Posts: 2038
Images: 107
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:11 am
Location: Plantersville, TX

Postby SteveH » Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:27 pm

I think it would weather better also...especially at the beach! :thumbsup:
SteveH
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant"is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist ".
User avatar
SteveH
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2101
Images: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:28 am
Location: Bexar Co, TX

Postby WarPony » Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:28 pm

I was reading on anodizing and when aluminum is anodized, it makes it surface hard. I don't know if it would weather any slower or not but if you are planning on using anodized trim I would think making bends is really going to be difficult. I suppose you could anneal it for the bendy parts but then you'll just be wasting money for anodizing by annealing it and taking the hardness out. I guess it just depends on what you are using it for.
ImageImage

Still a million dollars away from being a millionaire!!
User avatar
WarPony
Donating Member
 
Posts: 2089
Images: 289
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: Kansas, Topeka
Top

Postby angib » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:05 pm

Warpony,

Anodising only affects the very surface layer of the aluminium - about 0.1mm (4 thou). It doesn't seem to make it any harder to bend - and the anodising doesn't seem to crack when the aluminium is bent.

There is a separate process called 'hard anodising', which can only be a sort of browny grey colour, that is a lot harder than normal anodising, but it's still only a very thin layer.

Steve,

The only downside of anodising is that any marks that you do get will be pretty much impossible to repair or cover up.

This is unless you start cheating - making black anodised aluminium boat masts, we were plagued by tiny little handling scratches that showed up. We used to deal with them with 'instant anodiser'. Now, to an amateur, that would look like a black felt-tip marker - of course, that was just a handy case in which to keep our trade-secret instant anodiser....... Honest.

Andrew
User avatar
angib
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5783
Images: 231
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:04 pm
Location: (Olde) England
Top

Postby WarPony » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:32 pm

angib wrote:Warpony,

Anodising only affects the very surface layer of the aluminium - about 0.1mm (4 thou). It doesn't seem to make it any harder to bend


Ah, I didn't know that. I figured it was like pie crust....... if it bends, it breaks.
ImageImage

Still a million dollars away from being a millionaire!!
User avatar
WarPony
Donating Member
 
Posts: 2089
Images: 289
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:10 pm
Location: Kansas, Topeka
Top

Postby Sonetpro » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:45 pm

From what I read on SAF when they process it it actually becomes part of the metal.
Quote from site.
"What is anodizing?
A coating of aluminum oxide is grown from the aluminum by passing an electrical current through an acid electrolyte bath in which the aluminum is immersed. The coating thickness and surface characteristics are tightly controlled to meet end product specifications. "
}><)))'> ~--------------·´¯) SteveT
You don't know what the limit's are until you take it there.ImageImageImage
User avatar
Sonetpro
Site Admin
 
Posts: 2038
Images: 107
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:11 am
Location: Plantersville, TX
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests