Options for refinishing aluminum?

[xxxx]

What are my options for refinishing aluminum?

It is already anodized but there's some scrapes and I had some machine work done.

Can it be reanodized? Does that weaken the metal or anything?

Does anyone have anywhere they would recommend?

[bergmen]

The anodizing can be stripped and then the part can be re-anodized. No issues with weakening, no change to structural integrity.

Any outfit that does anodizing should be able to do what you want. It will not be cheap though being one part they will be working on.

Dan

[OCEquestrian]

Originally Posted by xxxx

What are my options for refinishing aluminum?

It is already anodized but there's some scrapes and I had some machine work done.

Can it be reanodized? Does that weaken the metal or anything?

Does anyone have anywhere they would recommend?

I do not believe you can re anodize aluminum. You may be able to Cerekote it..

[bergmen]

Originally Posted by OCEquestrian

I do not believe you ren re anodize aluminum. You may be able to Cerekote it..

I did this many times as a Mechanical Engineer. Talk to the plating shop that does anodizing and get their scoop on it.

This is one of many switch matrices I designed using aluminum extruded strut-based framing. These came from the factory (80-20) clear anodized. We stripped the extrusions and re-anodized where necessary:



Dan

[bugsy714]

You can strip it withDrano google stripping aluminum with Drano and they will give you some guidelines

Trying to get it anodized is going to be a pain because it’s a single piece and you’ll have to do it while you wait since it’s the registered portion of the fire


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[beerman]

Bergman is correct. Plater must chemically strip then re- plate. I’ve never had a plater or polisher care it was a gun part. I had a whole FAL black oxided once ( in pieces of corse) came out beautiful

[r1ghtw1ng]

Look into Birchwood Casey "Aluminum Black". Should be a couple bucks on midway.

Youtube some of the videos. It really does a good job of coloring/filling in light scratches/blems.

[CoopsDad]

Unless it's a showpiece or rarity, my go-to is a black sharpie.

[freonr22]

How do you account for the tolerance changes? I had eagle arms strip and redo, all the holes were off

[squeeze]

A few years ago I saw a YT video where they showed how to anodize Al with just a few 5 gal buckets and some chemicals. Can do lots of color anodizing too.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by freonr22

How do you account for the tolerance changes? I had eagle arms strip and redo, all the holes were off

You tell the plater to maintain the hole sizes.
They can adjust how long they etch and how long they plate to get the same amount of build during plating that they removed during etching.

This likely will require going to type III anodizing as type III builds a lot more than type II.

[beerman]

Originally Posted by freonr22

How do you account for the tolerance changes? I had eagle arms strip and redo, all the holes were off

Your holes didn’t move at all. They just got smaller from the plating buildup Should have asked the plater to mask them… Or ream can them after.

[67Cuda]

If you strip it and the original surface is smooth, stripping it will turn the surface a matte texture. Holes may enlarge, but if you have it hard anodized, which I believe they are originally because regular anodize will fade in the sun, the holes should be ok.