Anodizing Question

[A. Brett Schaller]

I'm about to try anodizing some titanium - something I've never done before - and I have a question. Most of my framelocks have the stop pin and rear locator pin (416 stainless steel) pressed in place. Is it necessary to remove these before anodizing? Will the anodizing solution damage them, or will they adversly affect the solution?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ed Caffrey]

I would suggest NOT putting any steel or non-titanium parts in an anodizing bath. They will be aggressively attacked, and in many cases will pit badly. At the very least any steel parts will be harshly etched. I've tried it a number of times in the past and it generally results in a tiny arc happening between the solution and the steel part....thats where the pitting comes from.

 

[A. Brett Schaller]

Thanks, Ed. I should have known the easy way wouldn't work!