Home Anodizing Aluminum by Starfire
Its EASY, and gives that brand new factory look.
Clean the part to be anodised.
In a plastic container, fill with a fairly strong solution of sulphuric acid.
Place a stainless steel or lead cathode plate at the bottom with a stainless
wire attached.
Suspend the part above this on a stainless wire, they must not touch and pour in
the acid so the part is covered.
Connect a battery charger to both stainless wires, POSITIVE to the work,
NEGATIVE to the cathode plate.
After 30 minutes or so of fizzing, remove work and wash and dry it. Immerse in
the dye for 15 to 20 minutes, remove and boil it in water for 20 minutes... this
hardens and sets the surface.
Dyes are easily found under the DYLON home dye brand...used for dying wool and
fabric. Food dye will also work. All colours are available and cheap.
This is less trouble with small parts and easier than painting. Gives a hard
wearing surface, great for brake/clutch levers, pedals, brackets, even a whole
engine cover.
Practice the process first on scrap aluminum parts to get the feel, much depends
on acid strength, charger current etc, everything works, but times vary.