color anodized aluminum spinner?

Have any of you tried color anodizing aluminum spinners? Anodized aluminum can be colored by placing it in boiling water with dye in it. Rit Dye works well. Are the spinners we receive already anodized? The Randy Smith ones in particular...

Actually, the Rit Dye trick is for canopies. Works with plastic if you're careful.

Anodizing is a bit more than just tossing the spinner in a pot full of dye and hot water.

Here's a handy guide Mr Google showed me on Anodizing Aluminum, by a telescope maker.

http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html

Nifty thought.

Cy.

The RIT dye trick works on NYLON spinners, props, canopies, control horns, etc. Anodizing metal is a whole different ballgame and I have never heard of anyone doing this before as described. I haven't tried it so I can't say it is impossible, but like "cold bluing" guns at home with straight out of the bottle stuff, I'd sure have to see it first to believe it.

Jake

The anodized coating can only be colored (dyed) while the coating is unsealed. Sealing is usually the last step in the anodizing process regardless if it has been dyed or not. Sealing closes the pores in the coating and it will no longer accept dye.

Ron,

Anodizing aluminum involves among other chemicals sulfuric acid! I have a small anodizing shop myself and have done a number of Tru-Turn spinners. I'm not sure which alloy Randy's spinner are made from but I'm pretty sure they could be anodized. I have a small web site if you want to check it out or feel free to email me.

Take care,
Tim Wiltse

www.hypercoloranodizing.com

Ron,

I had a 2" needle nose spinner and dural undercarriage from Randy annodised for "Obsession". They were blue and looked great. It depends upon who does your annodising. I had one mob make a mess of a spinner once.

Thanks everybody for the responses. Once again this group has come through with good answers to what might have been a real off the wall question.

Yes, I'm aware of the anodizing process and sealing/dyeing that can be done. I've done it to some parts for my Ham radio projects but it's a bit of a pain. Some alloys work better than others and you have to deal with some nasty chemicals. It does produce a really nice hard good looking finish.

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-04 AT 07:53 AM (CDT)
 
One of the original questions remains unanswered...Are the spinners already anodized? I would guess that they are not. But you can check easily. Use your volt-ohm meter on ohms, or a continuity tester. Without a lot of rubbing to wear through the anodize (IF), then there will be no electrical current flowing, no continuity. Steve

>One of the original questions remains unanswered...Are the
>spinners already anodized? I would guess that they are not.
>But you can check easily. Use your volt-ohm meter on ohms,
>or a continuity tester. Without a lot of rubbing to wear
>through the anodize (IF), then there will be no electrical
>current flowing, no continuity. Steve
>
>http://www.nwskyraiders.com/index.html

I checked with Randy Smith: his spinners are not anodized and they do take anodizing and dyeing well. In fact, he used to sell anodized spinners but there was not much market for them.

...Guess I'm weird. I think they look neat.