Neil Wyatt | 27/01/2018 11:46:20 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | I’m making a telescope, mostly from aluminium. There will be about 10 parts that need anodising, some black, some in a bright colour such as red or gold. The black parts (area wise) will be a tube about 75mm diameter by 200mm long, together with a tube about 80mm diameter by 150mm and one 56mm diameter by 155mm long (lengths are approximate). The biggest coloured part will be a turned/milled part from a hollow block about 75mm diameter by 50mm long, then there will be a ~60mm diameter ring and various knobs and small parts.
While I'm likely to experiment with anodising parts myself, I want a decent job so I'm interested in recommendations of firms who will take on a job of this sort of size, and also rough indications of the cost. Neil |
Michael Gilligan | 27/01/2018 11:55:37 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | I've never used them, Neil, but I think this would be my first checkpoint: http://www.anodising.com/ A Manchester firm, with a very impressive website. MichaelG. |
peak4 | 27/01/2018 12:16:53 |
![]() 2207 forum posts 210 photos | Can't directly help, but talk to an anodiser, sooner rather than later, as I understand some alloys anodise better than other. This comes from when I re-build the Ducati years ago and approached a local firm with the intention of getting some anodising done there. |
Neil Wyatt | 27/01/2018 13:41:58 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | I'm using 6082, which is apparently 'good' for everything except brightness which is 'fair'. Hopefully this means all the bits of one colour will come out looking the same! I have contacted one firm in Swindon who actually give some idea of price for a rough estimate, but I have a feeling my requirements will either fall under MOQ or what can be put in with another run. It would be useful to hear some 'real world' experiences. Neil |
KWIL | 27/01/2018 14:36:40 |
3681 forum posts 70 photos | For consistency of colour always use the same material. I have used Acorn in Vulcan Way Sandhurst, 01252 860424 very accomodating and not OTT in price. Just remember that if you want hard anodising (black) they tend to grow in size a little. The boss there is the same name as you. Usual disclaimer and they are just down the road! |
Gordon Tarling | 27/01/2018 17:16:17 |
185 forum posts 4 photos | I had a local company anodise some steam engine parts for me a couple of years ago and they made an excellent job of it. Price was very reasonable, too. Suggest you trawl the yellow pages for a local company, then either call them or walk in their door and see what they can do for you. This who I used - **LINK** |
Neil Wyatt | 27/01/2018 18:04:55 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | I've been quoted £100 for 1 1/2 runs + posting the bits back to me, which seems perfectly acceptable , except they only do black and silver. So... I might try doing the small coloured bits myself or look around for someone who will do colours at a reasonable cost. Neil |
Ian Skeldon 2 | 27/01/2018 18:15:23 |
543 forum posts 54 photos | Very helpful links thank you Michael and Gordon. Neil please do let us know how this pans out. |
JasonB | 27/01/2018 18:21:02 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Neil, drop a line to "Jon" on the forum as he has a lot of it done including colours. |
Enough! | 27/01/2018 18:50:26 |
1719 forum posts 1 photos | Posted by peak4 on 27/01/2018 12:16:53:
Can't directly help, but talk to an anodiser, sooner rather than later, as I understand some alloys anodise better than other.
2024 is bad or anything else containing significant amounts of copper. |
Neil Wyatt | 27/01/2018 20:05:31 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | Thanks All, I've re-read the old threads involving Ramon Wilson, and I'll drop Jon a PM. I've had a few companies suggested here and by pm. Pricing seems to be more or less dependent on surface area, so what I'm going to do is wait until I have the bits, measure them up and send details to the 'favourites'. In the meantime I will do some experiments with anodising small parts as I may be able to do the coloured parts myself. Neil |
Sam Stones | 27/01/2018 21:17:54 |
![]() 922 forum posts 332 photos | While building various research instruments some considerable time ago, I had quite a number of aluminium parts professionally anodised. It was disappointing when one set of parts, supposed to be black, were supplied with a significantly purple colour. Curiously, one piece just visible under the micrometer spindle, was quite a lot closer to being black. I have to admit that there is a slight colour cast in this photograph. It was taken from a very old (paper) print. Edited By Sam Stones on 27/01/2018 21:18:47 |
Jon | 27/01/2018 22:19:57 |
1001 forum posts 49 photos | Always the way Sam, been there done it.
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Sam Stones | 27/01/2018 22:49:53 |
![]() 922 forum posts 332 photos | Jon, It's too long ago to recall if the degree of fit was affected. Although it isn't very clear in the photograph, the 'pins' (guide rods and the micrometer spindle mechanism) you mentioned were clamped in the same plane. Had there been a problem, it was an easy matter to rub a bit off the matching faces of the clamps. The anodisers were (slightly) apologetic, but (fortunately it seems) I chose to accept the parts as they were. As one offs, I couldn't afford to remake them. There wasn't time either. I asked for natural (uncoloured) anodising for all follow up jobs that I chose to have anodised. I seem to recall there were few local anodisers, so I chose to stay with the same company. In reality, I wasn't interested in colour. I wanted parts with a hard wearing surface. Your points are well founded, and I'm sure Neil (and others) will benefit.
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Neil Wyatt | 28/01/2018 10:49:31 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | Thanks again, I'm beginning to wonder if home anodising is the way to go for them all! That way I get complete control. I hope to try anodising some smaller parts this week. Neil
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Involute Curve | 28/01/2018 11:04:00 |
![]() 337 forum posts 107 photos | I've had a lot of part ruined by plating companies, I've recently heard good reports about a company in Prudhoe near Newcastle, I may give them a try with some test bits before I commit to some complex parts, I'm looking for a bright silver grey colour. I prefer 5083 for anodised parts |
Meunier | 28/01/2018 19:45:17 |
448 forum posts 8 photos | Neil, if home -anodising, check with Dean Clarke 2 how he does his V4/V8/V12 aero engine anodising. |
Jon | 28/01/2018 20:11:21 |
1001 forum posts 49 photos | Best of luck Neil, i didnt have much luck when i used to attempt should i say my own anodising. 5083 a bit soft, 6082 T6 Structural aluminium despite data sheets responds to the best polishing and finishing. Have used twice a company up NE for nickel plating on copper plating on to aluminium 6082, they have lost critical non repeatable parts twice. Finishers just dont care and no come backs.
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