From: rodgold@aztec.co.za (Rodney Gold) Subject: Re: Aluminum Finish Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 14:19:00 GMT "Milton Martins" wrote: >HI, Folks, > >I am assembling a tube preamplifier using an aluminum chassis. My question >is: does anybody know how to finish aluminum so, it is resistent to >temperature? >Yes, I know I can go to Home Depot and get the spray painting, but to be >more specific I am looking for that golden yelowish (and I have seen blue >or pink also) aluminum finish. >Do you know what I am talking about? > >Thanks a milion for any help. > > >Milton Martins > >Please reply to milton@naplesnet.com > Yep its called anodising and you can do it at home folks , heres a recipe I have used succesfully for anodising car parts and I think its worthwhile posting here its so easy ;) 1) Take car battery acid and dilute it it about 1/3rd water and 2/3rds car battery acid (Aways add the acid to the water , NOT vice versa) 2) Get a plastic bucket and make an Aluminium foil pad that will sit at the bottom , make a kinda stalk that will run up the side of the bucket to over the lip. 3)Get a good quality battery charge with a variable output 4) Clean the aluminium part very well , it MUST be degreased , a very dilute soulution of pool acid works well here as well as giving the item to be anodised a nice matt finish (so does caustic) or any degreaser 5) Suspend the aluminium part in the bucket , fully immersed in the battery acid , with a wire that maintains a good electrical contact with the article (be careful it doesnt touch the "pad" you previously made) 6) Put one clip of the charger on the "stalk" and one on the the wire holding the part to be anodised , apply current , increasing it to a point where the part "fizzes" , leave it for 10 or 15 minutes or so or till it stops fizzing (not too long mind you , but the bigger the surface area of the part the longer it takes) 7) Remove part , wash in cold water 8) Get some dye , whichever colour you want the part to be , any colour , even pink or flourescent green will work , and any dye will do , warm it up on a pot , let it simmer (NOT BOIL) and dip the part in the dye , remove occasionally to see how deep the colour on the part is getting, till you are happy with colour 9) Wash again , then BOIL in clean water for 15 minutes or so (this seals it ) Voila- a custom coloured anodised aluminium part !!!!!!! The usual caveats apply here , be careful with acids , wear eye and hand protection , try it out 1st before doing your irreplacable Ongaku knobs etc etc, I have posted this here before Rodney Gold "The nicest thing about banging your head on the wall is- the feeling you get when you stop."