Thoughts on anodizing

[sledfreak89]

I used to do anodizing back in the day. Had a small operation in the back of my shop, mostly smaller parts like handlebars, risers, rails, etc. Anyways work has slowed down so im thinking about getting back into it. What are your thoughts on it, i know its very durable and bright but powder coating is quite cheap to get into and offers the same and more colors..

 

[arfrce]

I used to do anodizing back in the day. Had a small operation in the back of my shop, mostly smaller parts like handlebars, risers, rails, etc. Anyways work has slowed down so im thinking about getting back into it. What are your thoughts on it, i know its very durable and bright but powder coating is quite cheap to get into and offers the same and more colors..

Where are you located?
And yes go for it. You can anodize my tunnel. lol And bars. Sure I have something else you can do..
I like powder coating to. But there is just a awesome look to anodized parts.

 

[sledfreak89]

Im located in Flint, MI. Ill put a post up when i get everything running. Hopefully i can find all my stuff, i know its packed away somewhere. lol

 

[sledfreak89]

ttt

 

[Ten-Zing]

One area you could market to is anodizing heat exchangers components.

If I remember right anodizing actually helps heat transfer thus cooling capacity. You advertise that to people to even send in their heat exchangers and brush them up good and put a good clear or colored anodize on them to improve cooling and it could create a new type of demand for the service.

 

[sledfreak89]

Ten-Zing, i never thought of that. Thanks for the input i will definitely look into it! Anyone else?

 

[sledfreak89]

I know i could do idler wheels and small components like that easy, does anyone do this? I mean does anyone buy the billet wheels and have them anodized? I think they would look sweeeeeet

 

[arfrce]

Yeah I have seen it on a few sleds.

I am not sure if anodizing makes it get rid of heat faster. I do know that it makes the material harder though. While most aluminums average about 35 to 40 on the Rockwell C scale, the oxide layer is closer to 52 to 55. A file, usually very hard steel, is often 55 to 58 Rockwell C. The anodizing prevents further oxidation, so the piece wont rust or corrode any further, and also makes the surface much more wear and scratch resistant.


Here is a sweet looking tunnel.
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157337&highlight=anodized+tunnel

 

[Ten-Zing]

Well I do know that anodizing heat sinks in electronics applications is proven to radiate heat better than raw aluminum.

One thing that lowers raw aluminums ability to transfer heat is corrosion and dirt. In a sled application the environment is perfect for dirt and corrosion, so the older it gets the worse its ability to transfer heat.

Anodizing can be seen as an insulator, but the thinness of it is negated, due to its effects on improving the cooling.

Of course this is in an air transfer environment, logic tells me though that all the same rules apply when using cold water (or ice/snow) as the main source of heat transfer.

The oxide layer you refer to is aluminum oxide that is a really good conductor of heat, and this layer does not corrode and it easier to keep clean than raw aluminum.