Anodizing help

[Mcshank]

So I've played around with my anodizing setup for around a month now, still lots to learn but I have gotten some decent results. There are a few things I've yet to figure out though that Id like some help with. While polishing a scale, I get a weird phenomenon happening that I cant put my finger on. Taking a scale to 2500 grit, when I anodize it I'm getting very muted colors, Like my golds I normally do fine on are a straw color, everything is just wayyyyy lighter than normal like say on a factory finished scale. I was under the impression that polishing gives quite vibrant colors. Setup is an external power source (the one most people use), Distilled water and baking soda as the electrolyte, Titanium plate and wire are used as cathode/anode. Cleaning process is an ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water and a splash of simple green, rinse in distilled water, etch with whink (i know im getting multi etch soon), and into the anodizing bath. Any ideas as to why this is happening?

Pics of what I've done so far, with decent results.

Also wondering how to get good colors with stonewashed scales. Am I supposed to refinish it by polishing, anodize then stonewash? Tried taking a stock XM18 with stonewashed scales and it produced very matte colors.
If you have any refinishing tips for a more "factory look" let me know, Ive just been using sand paper and elbow grease so far. Looking at getting a blasting cabinet in the future.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

I don't know much about what everyone calls "anodizing." It's not.
But 2500 grit is not really polishing.

 

[A.McPherson]

WValtakis is the guy to talk to about coloring titanium. Maybe he's lurking and will drop in for some words of wisdom.

 

[WValtakis]

WValtakis is the guy to talk to about coloring titanium. Maybe he's lurking and will drop in for some words of wisdom.

Could be the surface isn't cleaned/prepped properly after polishing (I etch with Multi-Etch if I'm not immediately anodizing after getting the surface finish where I want it), the electrolyte mix could be off (I use a TSP substitute, not baking soda), or the electrolyte could be exhausted (it doesn't last forever). I'd mix a fresh batch and try a freshly polished piece and see what happens.

Many factory stonewashed or blasted scales are contaminated from makers using the same media for steel and titanium, leading to poor anodizing results. Etching can help this but sometimes they just have to be completely refinished with clean media.

 

[Mcshank]

Could be the surface isn't cleaned/prepped properly after polishing (I etch with Multi-Etch if I'm not immediately anodizing after getting the surface finish where I want it), the electrolyte mix could be off (I use a TSP substitute, not baking soda), or the electrolyte could be exhausted (it doesn't last forever). I'd mix a fresh batch and try a freshly polished piece and see what happens.

Many factory stonewashed or blasted scales are contaminated from makers using the same media for steel and titanium, leading to poor anodizing results. Etching can help this but sometimes they just have to be completely refinished with clean media.

Thank you for your help. I'll give it a go next time I'm able.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Could be the surface isn't cleaned/prepped properly after polishing (I etch with Multi-Etch if I'm not immediately anodizing after getting the surface finish where I want it), the electrolyte mix could be off (I use a TSP substitute, not baking soda), or the electrolyte could be exhausted (it doesn't last forever). I'd mix a fresh batch and try a freshly polished piece and see what happens.

Many factory stonewashed or blasted scales are contaminated from makers using the same media for steel and titanium, leading to poor anodizing results. Etching can help this but sometimes they just have to be completely refinished with clean media.

What type of TSP substitute do you use? TSP is basically not available in the EU. Thanks in advance!

 

[WValtakis]

What type of TSP substitute do you use? TSP is basically not available in the EU. Thanks in advance!

I use this stuff, hopefully it or something similar is available to you.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Cool, thank you so much, just checked and I order it from German eBay.

 

[WValtakis]

Cool, thank you so much, just checked and I order it from German eBay.

Great! I mix it using about 2 tablespoons of powder to 1 gallon of water.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

Turns out the person offering the TSP substitute on German eBay would be shipping it from the USA! Yikes, not gonna try and ship chemicals into the EU. I'll keep looking and see if there isn't somebody else here offering it. There are several products here on the market that are strong alkaline cleaners for things like construction sites. They do not contain TSP. Do you think that might be similar to what you're using?

 

[A.McPherson]

So this is what's in Savogran's TSP-PF, according to their SDS...
3. Composition/Information on Ingredients
Component CAS# % by Wt.
SODIUM SESQUICARBONATE 533-96-0 90% - 95%
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES NOT LISTED
SODIUM METASILICATE 6834-92-0 0.1% - 5%
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES NOT LISTED
EDTA, TETRASODIUM 64-02-8 0.1% - 5%
EXPOSURE GUIDELINES NOT LISTED

Maybe your can find something that has the same contents...