What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Not talking the decorative hardware per se, but rather the process used to protect metal (aluminum engine/ drive parts).

Is is it like plating? What are its advantages over coatings such as Gil Coating?

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Most of the aluminum anodized parts that are seen on a boat are not hard coated. The aluminum material in most cases is etched and then anodized to give an oxide coating on the material to protect it from corroding, etc.. Anodized aluminum can also be a flat finish or a gloss finish depending on the processes used.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Yeah, anodizing is sort of "controlled corrosion". What we commonly refer to as corrosion is an external chemical reaction between a metal and its environment.

The word corrosion, though, is derived from roots that mean "eating away", which anodizing clearly is NOT.

When metals react to factors in their environment, it usually is a continual process. Anodizing actually focuses the reaction across the entire surface of the part, leaving no exposed base material. Then, there is no "fresh meat" for a renewed reaction to occur with. This makes the treated product "stable" so it should retain that look and provide a barrier between corrosive environment and the base material.

Just like paint, cosmolene, plating, or Rhino-liner, if the anodized surface gets "compromised" (with a scrape or other break in its surface) it will allow renewed chemical reactions between the base material and the environment.

This is my area of concern with any highly reactive metal in a salt environment. You nick the "coating" and it will eat the insides out of the part.

Just so you know the "downside"...

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Iron and aluminum both oxidize when exposed to oxygen. Iron unfortunately becomes iron oxide/rust which we know is weak, brittle, unstable, useless. Aluminum becomes aluminum oxide which is stable, hard, chemically indistiguishable from sapphire, therefore very useful stable, and resistant. Anodizing aluminum electrochemically forces the oxide to form creating a layer of aluminum oxide on the surface, to varying depths depending on length and type of treatment, to provide stability, strength and corrosion reisitance.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

If an item is anodized with one color purple cn it be changed to another shade of purple?

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

I believe you have to polish the color off before you can recolor it, else it is blotchy.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Hard anodized Canfield heads

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

And this is why I ask.

It is the hard anodized heads that I am interested in. It appears you had them done after porting was completed. Did you have the guides and seats removed and then send the heads into them to be hard anodized?

How much do they charge?

Is there any difficulty putting the seats and guides back in?

Do you still have to deck the heads at this point or did you do it before?

Is Canfield the only outfit doing this?

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

the head is casted and machined then coated .after that they have the guides , valves etc done.
i just painted my engine yesterday , i have canfield heads. i bought from ke a few years back , most head manufactures offer the service for a extra charge. (worth it imho) i will post pics of mine monday.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Open;

Did you say after the guides and seats are in? My heads have guides and seats and are ported. I am trying to determine if it is not too late to cost effectively do this for the added protection.

Did the pait stick the the anodized aluminum? If so which paint did you use.

Did the get the water passages completely covered?

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Also,

Hardcoat anodizing will alter the part dimensionally. A build up of .002" on 6061 T6 alum is not uncommon. Therefore, a bore diameter could be as much as .004" smaller after anodizing. There is a masking procedure to eliminate coating unwanted areas.

Because hardcoating is an electrolytic process, sharp edges can have a greater buildup due to increased current density. This is of special concern when threaded parts are coated. Electroless nickel plating offers excellent corrosion resistance and lubricity for aluminum parts subject to wear. There's a post heat treatment that can significantly harden the high phosphor nickel plating as well.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Fred, if you look at the front of my motors, everything that's purple is Anodized not powder coated. I'm powder coating all of the diamond plate for the bilge, all mounts, rails and acc. mounts and the alternators but the whole pulley system is going to be anodized along with the sea pump (if possible to change the color).

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

no ,you needed to have the hardcoat done first. the hardcoat process will not be effective with other metals present ,big no no. the paint is ppg dp epoxey primer followed with ppg concept sinlge stage urethane with d 897 hardner. very durable. you can spray wet on wet. the only draw back to using the d 897 hardner is that it takes 48 - 72 hours to fully dry to the touch. but when it's cured ,it's tough as concrete. you will lose some of the high gloss luster about 15% using the d 897 . i did my power in med gray. going with pearls and bc / cc is a waste of money. once you have all of your runnig parts , it's mostly covered up. by doing it in a lighter color it will look alot more appealing ,especially with the red and blue jewelry :cool: :D :eek: :D :D

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

you can always go cloosed cooling , that is the best route to go (imo). i'm sure TRICK marine can bling you up :D :cool:

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

Open, Humor me for a second since I know you have been there, :D

Say I have the guides and seats taken out, What is the approximate cost to Hard anodize? Is Canfield the place? I can't be the first guy to decide to go this rout at this point.

I know closed cooling would be the answer but all that plumbing and it is so, so , so dang unattractive.

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

you want humor , let me get jc perf on the line :D :D :evilb:

the cost , i would not know. i would have gone cc myself ,but all that eickert jewelry is to purdy not to use. :D :D look n your local phone book , unde plating and anodizing , there s a company here that does it , the start fee is 300.00 (min they will set up the tank)

gottsa yellow page book ??

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

:D:D:D

Re: What is the process of hard anodizing?
 

[QUOTE=Breathe Later]Also,

. There is a masking procedure to eliminate coating unwanted areas.

Could you limit to just the external surface and the water jacket?

If so, would it be OK to leave the guides and seats in place?