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Funkwagon455 and I had similar experiences with clear anodizing on our wagons.
For me, it was $800 for a dozen pieces (on the box at rear in the first picture and some at top in the second picture.
For comparison, I had the stainless polished and the pot metal plated for $1000.
Funkwagon had to have some of his anodizing redone because the tone didn't match. He eventually used a place in Wisconsin. You cam pm him for the details.
I wouldn't recommend the place I had do my work because they took over 1 year and a LOT of follow-up to complete the job. They ultimately did nice work.
Eric,
You will find that when you RE-anodize your aluminium parts that the etching process will eat other materials in the aluminium deeper. The aluminium used is not pure aluminium and other elements are used for strengths and reflection.
If you buff the anodize off and try to redo it you could run into what I call the snowflake look where you will have bright spots and then dull spots that look like snowflakes in a random pattern.
If you redo the aluminium side panels on the Jetfire you will loose the lines from the acid etch and also get the discolour from the material loss.
You can plate the aluminium pieces in a dull finish to look like polished aluminium by going with a flash plating not a triple plating.
As you read earlier in this post by VC455 it can become a problem trying to re-anodize.
Steve
JASWEST
Eric,
You will find that when you RE-anodize your aluminium parts that the etching process will eat other materials in the aluminium deeper. The aluminium used is not pure aluminium and other elements are used for strengths and reflection.
If you buff the anodize off and try to redo it you could run into what I call the snowflake look where you will have bright spots and then dull spots that look like snowflakes in a random pattern.
If you redo the aluminium side panels on the Jetfire you will loose the lines from the acid etch and also get the discolour from the material loss.
You can plate the aluminium pieces in a dull finish to look like polished aluminium by going with a flash plating not a triple plating.
As you read earlier in this post by VC455 it can become a problem trying to re-anodize.
Steve
JASWEST
I am lucky on my side trim. I will not need to do anything to it. Mostly the tail light bezels and a couple others small parts. I want NOS tail light bezels but I can't find any. It looks like the grill is anodized but not sure yet. it is not a high gloss finish on it anyway. I may be able to clean up the grill with 0000 and be ok. At one time I seen NOS 62 grills on eBay all the time. Now I never see them.
I don't know if we have any professional platers on here, but the aluminum parts on automobiles are not truly anodized. They are a process called "bright dipped". It is very close to anodize but the tanks are charged with different chemicals and the process is different. That is probably why it took so long to get the parts done. Changing the chemicals in plating tanks is very expensive for only a few parts.
Last edited by edzolz; March 6th, 2018 at 06:32 AM.
Reason: added text
I found this to be a good product. It was recommended to me by a friend that uses it on motorcycle aluminum parts.
I had some .010 scratches on an anodized grille. Sanded through the anodize and into the aluminum until smooth. Then polished out to a bright shine. Then wiped on the Sharkhide. It actually looks better than anodize.
Additionally, I may try a few coats of clear lacquer. I've used it on residential brass door handles and trim with good success.
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Last edited by dream66; March 6th, 2018 at 07:28 AM.
March 4th, 2018, 09:22 AM
