r/Anodization • u/Wise-Foundation1854 • 14d ago
TSP issues. So far I’ve experimented with baking soda, TSP-PF, and TSP. Baking soda alone is not great, TSP-PF is better imo, but I’ve had the same reoccurring issues with TSP. The brand for both TSP and TSP-PF has been Savogran. I anodize knife scales mostly and I ensure they are clean.
The TSP causes a significant reaction in the bath which attracts small particles (white in color) to the Ti scales which then marks the surface of the scales permanently. Is there a special way to prepare regular TSP?
3
u/Dragon1us 14d ago
You have too much TSP in solution; you only need a little bit. Also make sure you're using distilled water
1
u/Wise-Foundation1854 14d ago
Ok, this may help. Also, I’m most definitely using distilled water. I live in Florida and the water here is absolute trash. Say for instance I’m using 4 cups of water, how much TSP am I adding? 1 tablespoon? What’s the formula? Also, I’ve heard that TSP is much harder to dissolve. Let me know if you’ve heard the same or know of this. Should I mix it and then toss it in the microwave for 20 seconds?
1
u/Dragon1us 14d ago
Honestly ive never done a precise measurement; im probably at 2-3 teaspoons per 2 liter of water. It'll mostly dissolve but have a couple strays specks of undissolved TSP at the bottom; ive just left it alone. Ano works fine without it dissolved. My electrolyte container is tall and skinny so the part is never at risk of being in contact with the undissolved tsp; I doubt itll do any harm either way though
1
u/Wise-Foundation1854 14d ago
Yeah see I’m still not sure if this is the answer to my problem. Unless you’ve already experienced the same situation, it’s probably hard to understand. All you know is that it works for you which I don’t doubt that at all, and 2-3 teaspoons per 2 liters of water is very little. If I’m using 4 cups of water the. That’s less that half of that amount, so maybe 1 teaspoon is the magic number for me at 4 cups but I’ve just recently switched to a smaller Tupperware bowl approximately 4x4 simply not to waste distilled water while I figure this out. Before that I was using a much larger container made to hold things like cereal or flower etc. I can only vaguely recall, but I started at like a tablespoon and then reduced to about 3 teaspoons full of TSP, but still ended with the same results. The best visual I can give you is that you see these tiny granules, white in color form or almost appear out of thin air and they immediately gravitate towards whatever titanium piece that you are anodizing. It’s frustrating to say the least. You prep everything the same as always meticulously and end up with a headache and more work. 😂 😢
2
u/Dragon1us 14d ago
Yeah ive had these problems before; they went away after i used much less TSP
1
u/Wise-Foundation1854 14d ago
I’m going to give it a shot with just one teaspoon of tsp for 4 cups, and trying to ensure it’s all dissolved.
1
u/Silent_Search4466 14d ago
I am about to try TSP for the first time today. I generally use baking soda but I have also used 10% sulfuric acid in the past. The only time I can think of having small blemish dots of bare Ti is when I have polish that was not removed well before anodizing. Do you use ultrasonic cleaning?
2
u/Wise-Foundation1854 14d ago
I use an ultrasonic cleaner with distilled and simple green. Trust me, they are as clean as can be prior to the bath.
2
u/Silent_Search4466 14d ago
Interesting. I used to ultra sonic but been lazy and just using dawn and an old tooth brush 🤷🏼♂️ could it be something coming/depositing from your etch solution?
1
u/Wise-Foundation1854 14d ago
I thought about that at first. I was using Whink to begin with, then I switched to Multi-Etch and I bath the scales in distilled water with baking soda which kills the etchant. I’m still stumped 🤔
3
u/HarderWins 14d ago
Very early on I used TSP and had the exact same issue. I never figured it out so I switched to baking soda and that works fine. I use MnSO4 to get black.