Anodizing

[StormyRob]

Saw a kit for anodizing on ebay. Not expensive and maybe something to mess with.
What I want to ask is...

Can I just straight anodized a caliper? It's obviously a very thin coating. Will there be any issue with pistons etc if I just anodize the entire thing?

[bigbadjonno]

From the Wikipedia page on anodising.

" Iron or carbon steel metal exfoliates when oxidized under neutral or alkaline microelectrolytic conditions; i.e., the iron oxide (actually ferric hydroxide or hydrated iron oxide, also known as rust) forms by anoxic anodic pits and large cathodic surface, these pits concentrate anions such as sulfate and chloride accelerating the underlying metal to corrosion"

Therefore, your pistons will go rusty. Very quickly.

[StormyRob]

From the Wikipedia page on anodising.

" Iron or carbon steel metal exfoliates when oxidized under neutral or alkaline microelectrolytic conditions; i.e., the iron oxide (actually ferric hydroxide or hydrated iron oxide, also known as rust) forms by anoxic anodic pits and large cathodic surface, these pits concentrate anions such as sulfate and chloride accelerating the underlying metal to corrosion"

Therefore, your pistons will go rusty. Very quickly.

I don't want to sound stupid.... But I was going to take the pistons out and when the anodizing is finished will it then react with the pistons?

[8541Hawk]

You could always take something like a brake cylinder hone and clean out the piston bores after you have anodized the calipers

[felix barrao]

I have made some anodizing testings.
I use sulfuric acid diluted with distilled water, an aluminium sheet as cathode, and aluminium wire for hanging the piece a power supply ,and specific colorants for anodizing bought on ebay. The results are very good after some tests. You have to use 1,5 A per square decimeter, for about one hour to have aprox 30 micron of protection. (Yes, the radius of the piston housing will be smaller after the anodizing). It doesn't affects to the threads, etc, but I don´t know if will affect to the piston tolerance.
After the anodizing, don´t forget to boil the piece 1 hour in distilled water to close the pores.
You can test before with scrap pieces, , you don´t need colorants for testing, just sulfuric acid, ( I got mine from an old car battery before to recycle) one aluminum sheet , some aluminum wire and a power supply.
Probably is possible to protect the piston housings to avoid the anodizing on this zones, but actually I don´t know how..

[MacV2]

Mark Gl_rs used to have a contact who did Anodising... Someone on here had a pair of callipers done...

So it can be done.

[MacV2]

A good 30 mins later...

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=35129

[MacV2]

1 min later... https://www.acornplating.com/

[MacV2]

So KevL how are the callipers holding up ?

[tony.mon]

How much do you think they'd charge to have "brembo" plated on to them?

[alanfjones1411]

How much do you think they'd charge to have "brembo" plated on to them?

[StormyRob]

Thanks for that Mac. I'd be keen to know how they held up also kev

[MacV2]

Thanks for that Mac. I'd be keen to know how they held up also kev

I'm sure he will be along in a bit...give him time he's old & bloo...

[Kev L]

Hi. Chaps, I had mine anodised by a friend of Marks (GLS-R) Jay Reich. She works (worked?) at Acorn plating Ltd.
She did all three calipers and they still look as good as new. Well worth the very reasonable cost, not that I can remember exactly how much I paid.
If you’re interested Rob shoot me a PM and I’ll send you her number and e-mail.