I think this is the best section to post this?-

Does anyone know a good source for hobby plating at a semi profeissional level? Ive got a small set from caswell plating but I would like something more than using house hold stuff to get by. I was looking at hobbyplating.com and they had some really nice stuff but it looks like thier site is down and I didnt notice anything ever updated since I first saw it a few years back. Im mainly looking for anodizing resources.

Not sure if you are looking for intellectual or material resources but here are a few I saved in my favorites.

Ken


http://www.anodizing.org/benefits.html
http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize.html

IM looking for supplies- dyes, baths, cathodes, rectifiers, etc. i would like to find professional stuff in hobby quantities.

Are those special dyes? or can i use any kind of dye. Will you be able to find those dye is Lowes or Homedepot?

From my understanding you don't need any "special" dyes, I'm not sure how it turns out, but I have heard of people using just ordinary clothes dies. You would have to try it out on a piece of scrap alluminum. What they also do is just use ordinary dish soap to clean the part, and boiling water to seal the part after it has been put into the dye. You also need some battery acid (sulphuric acid ???) and need to dilute it with water to a certain percentage, I forget what it was. Hope to be of some help. To tell you the truth, I have never anodized anything before, just researched some stuff on it.
:)

Where i be able to find those battery acid in my local store?

also can you list all the items that is needed?

I got my acid at a NAPA store. If you go to www.caswellplating.com you can get some good info on what you need since they want you to buy it from them.
Dyes arent expensive and can be used over and over many times so I wouldnt go with a cheap dye just to save 1 or 2 dollars.

Ron Newman's book on anodizing, available from the focuser.com link listed above, is the best 20 bucks you'll ever spend if you're interested in anodizing. He sells pro supplies at reasonable prices, and gives plenty of advice on what to use and why, as well as telling you why you shouldn't use fabric dyes, low temp sealers, etc if you want professional results. He also quotes some prices of some of the various "professional level" components, and some of these will make you rethink your equipment needs unless you're planning to go into the anodizing business full scale. Buy his book and read it, and you'll see the secrets to successful anodizing results are in cleanliness, proper rinsing, and an understanding of how the process works, rather than the purchase of a load of high dollar equipment. I had a couple questions specific to the parts I want to anodize, and my email to Ron was answered in a matter of hours. He even gave me a couple tips on what unnecessary steps I could omit for the particular material I'm using to actually enhance the results I'm looking for. No affilliation, just a satisfied customer.

Cliff

Hey I hope some of this will help. I have a small anodizing shop myself. I bought alot of my set up from places local to me. Plastic tanks you can get at Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart etc. Look for the ones with the triangle on the bottom with 5 and PP in it. Aluminum hanging wire can be found at again Lowes, Home Depot and Radio Shack. As for the cathode it's just a lead plate, I did get mine from Caswell's. I picked up my bucket of acid from NAPA for $13.00. All the other "little" odds and ends just shop around. Now for the dye use one made for the job. Don't use the stuff from the store for clothes. Ron Newman now sells dye and low temp sealer. Really the only thing you need to buy online from anyone would be the dyes, sealer( steaming works in place of it), De-Smut/De-Ox, and maybe stripper if you plan to work with parts that may already be anodized. For the love of god forget you even heard of the name Hobbyplating.com. This guy is locked up as I understand it now for ripping off tons of people. They have taken people for, in some cases tens of thousands of dollars. I can't count the number of people I have heard that have been taken by them!
If you would like check out my web site with the parts that I have anodized in my shop.

Later,
Tim
www.hypercoloranodizing.com

Howdy Folks -
below are some links to a forum that has a wealth of info on anodizing aluminum.

Between neilfj and Jurgenstemmler you will find a plethora of
both theoretical and practical info regarding DIY anodizing.
Just a heads up, For those who may not care for such things,
this is a "gunsmithing" forum site.

anodizing for cats part 1
http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=22;t=7407

anodizing for cats part 2
http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=22;t=7517

anodizing cast alum
http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=22;t=745

best regards
shunka

Is there any machines I could buy that does all that for me?

Ron Newman's book on anodizing, available from the focuser.com link listed above, is the best 20 bucks you'll ever spend if you're interested in anodizing. He sells pro supplies at reasonable prices, and gives plenty of advice on what to use and why, as well as telling you why you shouldn't use fabric dyes, low temp sealers, etc if you want professional results. He also quotes some prices of some of the various "professional level" components, and some of these will make you rethink your equipment needs unless you're planning to go into the anodizing business full scale. Buy his book and read it, and you'll see the secrets to successful anodizing results are in cleanliness, proper rinsing, and an understanding of how the process works, rather than the purchase of a load of high dollar equipment. I had a couple questions specific to the parts I want to anodize, and my email to Ron was answered in a matter of hours. He even gave me a couple tips on what unnecessary steps I could omit for the particular material I'm using to actually enhance the results I'm looking for. No affilliation, just a satisfied customer.

Cliff


What machines did he say for professional level?