Solutions for Anodizing Titanium

Tom Militano

Tom Militano

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What is the best solution for anodizing titanium? I'm using distilled water and TPS or TSP or whatever it is with pretty good results, but I'm curious what other makers are using.
 
Tom Militano said:
What is the best solution for anodizing titanium? I'm using distilled water and TPS or TSP or whatever it is with pretty good results, but I'm curious what other makers are using.
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Sulphuric Acid. Mix 1 to 10 with distilled water, slightly stronger if you have anything less than reagent-grade. :thumbup:
 
I used coke once and it pitted my part. Not sure why but i will never try that again. KIRBY
 
BIG TIP

I got some great ideas from a jeweler that uses Ti in certain peices...

I always used TSP before with good results but rescently shifted to a different product that I have adapted some meathods with to get some good results...

Basically if you use TSP the Phosphate in the solution is what is doing the work. So basically the more phosphate that is available in the solution the easier it works. The easier it works, the more control you have over the color.

SO try powdered Cascade dishwashing soap. What I did was this...

Supersaturate a warm distilled water solution...it will be thick (add powder til no more will disolve)

Strain the solution through coffee filters or paper towels... this will remove the color from the solution and the thickening agents...

Now what you have is a supersaturated solution.

I dilute this solution with more distilled water about one cup to a quart of water.

I have taken my color chart about double, with much more suttle color changes than the TSP solution. Almost 50 distint colors are available with this solution (30 with TSP).

You can even get a pink that is ALMOST red.

TIP#2

Get some Multi-Etch from reactive metals... it is the ONLY way to get good colors on the top end of the spectrums on Ti. Another etchant might work also but I have found that one bottle of Multi-Etch has lasted me almost 5 years. Not a bad deal.

Let me know if you guys need any more info or tips... I annodize a LOT of Titanium and am always looking around for new ways and better living through chemicals..:)

Alan Folts

alanfolts@hotmail.com
 
I've used diet coke with the same pitting results but only after repeated attempts. It doesn't seem to bother most that I've done with just the first coating at lower voltages. But this method doesn't seem to coat as evenly and uniformly as other products like the TSP will.

I've also used dishwashing detergent with very good results. From my experience the more time you spend cleaning the ti first the better your results will be. I use acetone to wipe things down first before anodizing and the multi etch is a good idea if you plan to go to any of the colors past say 50 volts from the blues on. I've found it is really hard to make the ti turn color after 50 volts without the multi etch.

I used to wonder why so many makers anodized their liners purple but now after doing it I know. It is the easiest and deepest color to achieve by far IMO.
 
I just use TSP and distilled water. Seems to work fine, as long as I wipe everything off with Windex® before anodizing.

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Coke will eat anything. Put a Tbone in it and it'll eat the bone. Cleans stains out of your pot. I even used it to remove rust and racid oil from an old dutch oven. Gotta watch it tho, it'll even eat the cast iron. Think about that next time you twist a soda lid :)

Bryan
 
Hi,

Any ideas on how to anodise the handle of the BM630 to remove the color dots ? I live in Brazil, so I won't find the products you're saying by the comercial name (except Diet Coke ;) ) ...

Any help will be apreciated.

Thanks !

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
Coke contains phosphoric acid .I would assume that it would be better to use straight phosphoric acid ,the other ingredients may be the cause of problems.Make sure to clean the metal thoroughly first then keep fingers off!
 
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