Anodising a bare ally frame

[tonybrown5]

Hi all, I've just purchased a bare ally zaskar. On an ideal world I'd love a frost red one but this was a third of the price. Is it easy too have then anodisded to a decent standard and if so what prep needs to be done?
Also can anyone recommend places to do this ideally around beds, bucks, Cambs area along with approximate costs so I don't get shafted?

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

You'll need to remove any steel parts - eyelets etc otherwise its goodbye frame

 

[tonybrown5]

You'll need to remove any steel parts - eyelets etc otherwise its goodbye frame

You sound like a man taking from experience? The only steel parts will be for the bottle bosses, what damage can they do to the frame of left in?

 

[danson67]

Re:

The bosses (or any other steel inserts) will be eaten by the anodising acid, and will contaminate the anodising solution with Fe, so will piss the anodizer off.

Drill them out 7.3mm and have them replaced when finished.

Also, check that the frame isn't clear lacquered, or clear (undyed) anodised by checking the non-conductivity of the surface with a multimeter continuity setting.
Such finishes are both generally insulators/non-conductive.

If there is a previous finish other than polishing, it will affect how the prep is handled.

All the best,

 

[Rampage]

Re:

Wasn’t there someone who recently had a frame anodised?

 

[66 triumph daytona]

Re:

Would helicoil inserts have to be removed too?

 

[RickTheUncivil]

Re: Re:

Wasn’t there someone who recently had a frame anodised?

Yes, danson67 sorted it out

 

[danson67]

Re:

Yup, that was me...It was Rick's red Pace frame.

Anything steel needs to go, stainless or not. The anodising involved both nitric and sulphuric acid, both of which will eat the steel which will damage the surrounding aluminium and contaminate the anodising solution.

All the best,

 

[Timoth27]

Re:

Bugger that scuppers my plans to refresh my rear hope hub then.

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

Yeh unfortunately it needs to be BARE alloy (so get the caustic out too to get it finished right)

You'll need to polish the living sh*t our of it to get a nice finish too otherwise you'll get a matt finish.

Try "Acorn Plating" as Steve is wonderful.