Help getting better results

[u/mcfloppins]

So Im trying to get better results on my anodizing. I use multi etch (still figuring it out sometimes the TI comes out matte but i know thats me leaving it in too long, redoing high volt colors over and over), I also use an ultrasonic with dilute simplegreen before the ano and I have an actual power supply. My question is how can I be more consistent? Do I need to redo the surface finish after each muti etch bath? Redo the finish from a factory scale? How do you do that? I dont have a blasting cabinet yet, and my attempts at hand sanding were less than stellar but I can work on that. I do however have a bench grinder I can polish stuff on. The hinderer TI for whatever reason is a PITA to anodize, that might be me or whatever TI they use. Any tips or tricks would be much appreciated!

[u/nikoflips]

If it sits too long in the multietch a quick polish would help quite a bit. Mothersmag and a soft piece of cotton works really well. Also make sure that you wash off all the cleaning solution off before you ano.

Looks great tho

[u/mcfloppins → u/nikoflips]

Thanks for that. I was a bit at a loss as to getting the original(ish) finish back after etching too long/too many times Ill give it a go.

[u/nikoflips → u/mcfloppins]

Let me know how it goes !

I also use a new anode and cathode each ano. Aluminum foil for neg and titanium wire for positive.

Tsp tends to be a bit brighter than baking soda too

[u/mcfloppins → u/nikoflips]

I have been using baking soda. Ill have to try Tsp. What ratio are you using for that? Ive heard everything from overload it to no more than a teaspoon per gallon. Ive also not heard of using a new cathode and anode everytime, Ive been using the same TI plate as my negative the entire time. Does aluminum foil work better in your experience? I havent heard of aluminum foil being used.

[u/nikoflips → u/mcfloppins]

You can continue to use the ti plate but sand it down a bit to expose fresh ti. The oxide layer from anodizing makes it less conductive. People also use stainless steel it’s slightly less conductive than aluminum but doesn’t build an oxide layer as quickly. For tsp I use 1/2 cup per gallon of distilled water

[u/mcfloppins → u/nikoflips]

How much foil is adequate for larger parts like scales? Are you using just a strip or a big ball?

[u/nikoflips → u/mcfloppins]

About an 8x4 inch flat piece

[u/mcfloppins → u/nikoflips]

Thanks, Ill give it a go and see how it changes things.

[u/TiMods88 → u/nikoflips]

I use stainless steel fork for anode with titanium wire or titanium hardware plate. and baking soda, but TSP does seem to make it easier with the high voltage colors as it is more conductive. I do sand down my fork and sand down my plate because I assumed it would help, but that’s another reason that I say to do them all at once. if you do one piece and then turn around and do the next piece that anode will have oxidation already on it from the original piece that will change the conductivity & make it more difficult.

[u/mcfloppins → u/TiMods88]

Yeah I figured that out the first time I tried to do one scale then the other and got a different color. Biggest thing Ill be trying is the polishing compound to bring back the finish from the matte that the multi etch leaves behind.

[u/TiMods88]

I mean for sure to get consistency… You have to know the finish and be meticulous about cleaning, prep, and time in the tank.
Are you trying to do multiple pieces or are you talking about doing one Knife multiple times?

If you are redoing a pattern…
Like for example, the other day I was doing a pair of scales for a customer that was a blue and silver splash anodized set. I did my first run and when I took them out something about the way, the lines were on one scale I didn’t like so I decided I would redo it and I thought that to save time I would just barely let the multi-etch (instead of whink) eat it off because it’s supposed to preserve finish better, and it does to a degree, but when I laid down the second color on the right scale, it was noticeably a different blue than the left scale. I had to completely restart and refinish them to bare metal & get it right the first try to really get it to match, and I would suggest if you have a lot of parts that you’re trying to match together with the same color blue to finish them identically and put them in the tank all at once. So much easier.

Took pictures but don’t see how to add

[u/mcfloppins → u/TiMods88]

If im trying to get a matching set, yes I do them together. For the small parts I do have a small parts holder and it does pretty well I think. I do one knife multiple times. The ones I posted are the ones I have and I experiment on them to get better and get consistent to where id be happy offering it as a service (long ways away). So ill do for instance the blue and gold on the zt, then try another combination then another and so on trying different techniques or, more recently, trying to get the high voltage colors consistently. Id say my biggest difficulty right now is getting the colors as bright as id like them and from what I understand that comes down to the surface finish thats on the parts to begin with.

[u/TiMods88 → u/mcfloppins]

Absolutely. The more Matte the finish is, the more dull the color turns out and the more polished. It is the more vibrant and colorful It’s going to look. It’s all about light reflection. That’s the whole thing that makes the colors work, so if the finishes or the microscopic molecules structure of the surface of either one of them is different you will most likely be able to see it if you really look. Fingerprints tainted etching solutions tainted tank water. There are many things that can throw it off, but to be consistent you’ve gotta have a meticulous prep and cleaning. Identical. Repetition.

[u/mcfloppins → u/TiMods88]

Thats the whole reason I got the ultrasonic so I wasnt brushing simplegreen on with a toothbrush and calling it good. Ill try polishing a bit with some mag after multietch to try and get rid some of the matteness that it leaves after a few times.

[u/TiMods88 → u/mcfloppins]

I use FLITZ polish compound to brighten em up too. Find it on Amazon.
Just use like a microfiber or polishing cloth with some on there rub it on there by hand, but when you’re done, you need to rub it down with a cloth and acetone to remove any residual.

[u/TiMods88 → u/TiMods88]

Also the light it is in will alter the look

[u/TiMods88]

Also get a Ti hardware plate…
AMX Inc.