Need some small parts anodized... where?

[3Tripnip]

Hey!

I am working on finishing my Vader ROTJ saber, and I'd like a few of the smaller aluminum parts anodized black. Does anyone know of a place I can send these that will do short-run anodizing? Everywhere I've looked locally (Portland, OR) doesn't want to do it due to the low number of pieces. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[wamser_e]

Hey!

I am working on finishing my Vader ROTJ saber, and I'd like a few of the smaller aluminum parts anodized black. Does anyone know of a place I can send these that will do short-run anodizing? Everywhere I've looked locally (Portland, OR) doesn't want to do it due to the low number of pieces. Any help would be much appreciated

If they just need to be black(but not painted) you can use something like Birchwood Casey's Aluma black. Most gun supply stores like Brownell's carry it.

 

[Darth Detroit]

Dude, I had my saber parts anodized and it looks SWEET. WAY better than having it painted. There is a place here in Omaha that will do it regarless of size, and it only cost me about $25 for everything.

http://www.yellowpages.com/Omaha-NE/Plating?From=qpiCityState

Industrial Plating is the name of the place. REALLy reputable.

 

[3Tripnip]

Thanks for the contact! I will get a hold of them as soon as I can. Thanks again!

 

[jason1976]

Anyone konw of a place like that, in Columbus, Ohio? I would love to get some of the parts of my obi ROTS saber anodized black.

 

[Djinn]

In what colors can you have something anodized?

 

[Rebelscum]

My local place does black, red, blue, green, purple, yellow and clear. I have seen other colors, just not any place I've actually used.

 

[jason1976]

Well, maybe I"m going about this wrong. Who should I look for a local place to anodize a couple small parts? What should I search under, in say the phone book, on online? (Machine shops? Body shops? etc?) Ho should I be calling? What should I be asking for? (just anodizing, or is there another term for it?)

I mean, at around 25 it might be worth dooing, but if I have to pay to ship it to some one here, on the boards, and for the service, and to have it shipped back again, all that shipping will add a bit to the price of the project. (could be around $16. just for the shipping cost, to make the round trip. ) Not that I've heard anyone offering.

 

[Rebelscum]

Well, maybe I"m going about this wrong. Who should I look for a local place to anodize a couple small parts? What should I search under, in say the phone book, on online? (Machine shops? Body shops? etc?) Ho should I be calling? What should I be asking for? (just anodizing, or is there another term for it?)

I mean, at around 25 it might be worth dooing, but if I have to pay to ship it to some one here, on the boards, and for the service, and to have it shipped back again, all that shipping will add a bit to the price of the project. (could be around $16. just for the shipping cost, to make the round trip. ) Not that I've heard anyone offering.

No, I think you have it correctly described. It's specialized enough that not many people set up to do it, even in a large metroplex like here in Dallas / Ft. Worth. Just fyi, my local place charges $75 mininum, which has always been more than I needed done, though they have always run test parts for me for free.

 

[jason1976]

No, I think you have it correctly described. It's specialized enough that not many people set up to do it, even in a large metroplex like here in Dallas / Ft. Worth. Just fyi, my local place charges $75 mininum, which has always been more than I needed done, though they have always run test parts for me for free.

"though they have always run test parts for me for free" HM. What
constitutes a "test"? I just need the "Grenade", "gear", and maybe the very little piece that goes in the control box, for my Obi-wan ROTS saber. The saber comes apart, so I can take (or send) just those parts of the saber to be anodized. So would those parts be considered small enough for a "test"?

Just trying to get an idea of what to ask locally, or here on the boards.

 

[tripoli]

Platers are having a huge problem with these times. The auto industry is rough and the EPA and other regulators are killing such businesses. Here in Toledo which services Detroit, there is no plater that can do such. So if you find one even out of town that is recommendded, you should give it good consideration. The price is darn good as well.

 

[Rebelscum]

"though they have always run test parts for me for free" HM. What
constitutes a "test"? I just need the "Grenade", "gear", and maybe the very little piece that goes in the control box, for my Obi-wan ROTS saber. The saber comes apart, so I can take (or send) just those parts of the saber to be anodized. So would those parts be considered small enough for a "test"?

Just trying to get an idea of what to ask locally, or here on the boards.

Well, for me, it was clearly a project that I did end up doing with them. I believe they expected that to happen for the tests. Though they were very nice to do the dozen tests or so I did on the holograph chess table top, which bordered on way too many tests for even my patience. It doesn't help that the place is a good 45 mintues away and no reason for me to go over there near fort worth unless I'm going there.

 

[modelcitizen]

you carn't get them anodized for free in other words

 

[jason1976]

you carn't get them anodized for free in other words

Well actually, I never figured I could get them anodized for free. I was more concerned with the us of the word "test".

I've never had anything anodized before, I have one of each of these pieces, and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them. I worry, if "tests" are required, that my piece my be damaged, or lost all together, seeing as how I don't don't know any anything about anodizing, other then that it give a better, more durable finish then paint.

So, in other words, are test always needed? and if so, do they have to test the actually parts? And if so, is there anything they can do, if it doesn't work the first time? (or is that even a possibility?)

 

[modelcitizen]

"plating" is probly the search word you're looking for. if you can find a place that chromes stuff, usually they can anodize or can refer you to someone who can, most likely.
i'm not completely sure but a test would prolly apply more to a precursor to a large run, no?