aluminium anodizing?

[supark]

Hey guys - know of anyone local that does aluminium anodizing? Want to redo my grill.

[Conserv]

Depends on where you are and how you define local.

Steve

[supark]

Well, was looking for something in the pacific NW, but I'd be fine shipping them somewhere if there's a great place that is reasonably priced. Mine are shockingly almost perfect except for the fact that they've been painted flat black at a certain point.

[Conserv]

I've used Metal Finishers of Atlanta (Lilburn, GA) for small items and I've used Nu-Chrome (Fall River, MA) for late 2002 bumpers. Both have done nice work for me. Metal Finishers of Atlanta seemed to be much more reasonably priced than Nu-Chrome, but since very few anodizers can accommodate items as large as one-piece bumpers, I may be comparing apples and oranges.

It seems to me that there are relatively lots of anodizers out there that may be able to do "bright dip" anodizing, which is how I believe one refers to the finish on our 2002s' bright parts, so you can probably find something closer to home. You just need to confirm that their tanks can accommodate your grilles.

Steve

[aa/fd]

Protective Coatings in Kent for most any Aero-Space metal finish needed.

Anodizing Inc. in Portland do "bright dip" which is a more industrial finish.

Bright Dip verses Color Anodizing

Aluminum that is polished and then color anodized (clear in this case) is a much better finish than bright dip which bypasses the polish step by etching and renders a grainy finish. Think AN fittings for reference.

Remember both shops are Boeing direct contractors and getting your small job in and out is difficult and can be expensive. Just be patient with them as they will need to fit you between 737 and 777 parts.

[Conserv]

Bright Dip verses Color Anodizing

Aluminum that is polished and then color anodized (clear in this case) is a much better finish than bright dip which bypasses the polish step by etching and renders a grainy finish.

Hmm? So what were the original aluminum finishes? Two places to which I took my big bumpers (when I was looking for big plating tanks) immediately said they were "bright dipped." And, indeed, I remember a graininess to them from new. But were they the only bright dipped components? Was everything else polished and clear anodized?

Thanks,

Steve

[supark]

Awesome thanks for the responses guys. How much should I expect to pay for getting my grills "bright dip" anodized?

[aa/fd]

Just guessing, but I'd expect too pay at least $100 min. the shops are really busy with airplane production at the current levels.

Remember all joints and doubled areas are a source for blotching in bright dip.

Such as the area where headlight fairing is sweged to the main grill section.

Careful attention to the rinse after etching is mandatory or ugly streaks and blotching will originate from this seam.

[Conserv]

Just guessing, but I'd expect too pay at least $100 min. the shops are really busy with airplane production at the current levels.

Remember all joints and doubled areas are a source for blotching in bright dip.

Such as the area where headlight fairing is sweged to the main grill section.

Careful attention to the rinse after etching is mandatory or ugly streaks and blotching will originate from this seam.

But, again, you brought up a very good point previously: something I was insensitive to. I believe the late, '74-'76, bumpers were, indeed, bright dipped. But they seem to have a different finish from, for example, the drip rails for the roof, which I believe are also anodized aluminum. Were the drip rails, for example, possibly polished and clear dipped? I haven't looked carefully at a pre-'74 grill for years, are they closer in finish to the drip rails or to the late model bumpers?

Thanks,

Steve

[aa/fd]

I'd guess the drip rails were polished and clear anoded as they are smooth show no oxidation and have no indication of a clear coat paint.

The last new set of pre-74 grills I saw looked like they might bright dipped, but looks can be deceiving on extrusions and stampings. The headlight fairings look to be spun and I would bet the pieces are anoded separate prior to assembly.

[Conserv]

I'd guess the drip rails were polished and clear anoded as they are smooth show no oxidation and have no indication of a clear coat paint.

The last new set of pre-74 grills I saw looked like they might bright dipped, but looks can be deceiving on extrusions and stampings. The headlight fairings look to be spun and I would bet the pieces are anoded separate prior to assembly.

Thanks. That's helpful.

Regards,

Steve

[allbim]

Just guessing, but I'd expect too pay at least $100 min. the shops are really busy with airplane production at the current levels.

Remember all joints and doubled areas are a source for blotching in bright dip.

Such as the area where headlight fairing is sweged to the main grill section.

Careful attention to the rinse after etching is mandatory or ugly streaks and blotching will originate from this seam.

Their minimum charge was $235.00 last time they did a job for me.