I've never used them, Neil, but I think this would be my first checkpoint:

**LINK**

http://www.anodising.com/

A Manchester firm, with a very impressive website.

MichaelG.

I had a local company anodise some steam engine parts for me a couple of years ago and they made an excellent job of it. Price was very reasonable, too. Suggest you trawl the yellow pages for a local company, then either call them or walk in their door and see what they can do for you. This who I used – **LINK**

Very helpful links thank you Michael and Gordon. Neil please do let us know how this pans out.

2024 is bad or anything else containing significant amounts of copper.

While building various research instruments some considerable time ago, I had quite a number of aluminium parts professionally anodised. It was disappointing when one set of parts, supposed to be black, were supplied with a significantly purple colour. Curiously, one piece just visible under the micrometer spindle, was quite a lot closer to being black.

I have to admit that there is a slight colour cast in this photograph. It was taken from a very old (paper) print.

Edited By Sam Stones on 27/01/2018 21:18:47

Jon,

It's too long ago to recall if the degree of fit was affected.

Although it isn't very clear in the photograph, the 'pins' (guide rods and the micrometer spindle mechanism) you mentioned were clamped in the same plane. Had there been a problem, it was an easy matter to rub a bit off the matching faces of the clamps.

The anodisers were (slightly) apologetic, but (fortunately it seems) I chose to accept the parts as they were. As one offs, I couldn't afford to remake them. There wasn't time either.

I asked for natural (uncoloured) anodising for all follow up jobs that I chose to have anodised. I seem to recall there were few local anodisers, so I chose to stay with the same company.

In reality, I wasn't interested in colour. I wanted parts with a hard wearing surface.

Your points are well founded, and I'm sure Neil (and others) will benefit.

I've had a lot of part ruined by plating companies, I've recently heard good reports about a company in Prudhoe near Newcastle, I may give them a try with some test bits before I commit to some complex parts, I'm looking for a bright silver grey colour.

I prefer 5083 for anodised parts

Best of luck Neil, i didnt have much luck when i used to attempt should i say my own anodising.
That was in the days when there was only three that told you how and omitted relevant points kept hush hush and had to work out for yourself.

Only got my small tank now, its been outside 8 years, bigger tank my nipper broke 12 years ago gallons of sulphuric flooded out.

5083 a bit soft, 6082 T6 Structural aluminium despite data sheets responds to the best polishing and finishing.
Link to Neil they do shades of grey.

Have used twice a company up NE for nickel plating on copper plating on to aluminium 6082, they have lost critical non repeatable parts twice. Finishers just dont care and no come backs.