Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations TugboatEng on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Anodized aluminummmmm

  • Thread starter Thread starter -
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.

Guest
Hey guys I`m building a t-top for my boat I`m using bright dipped anodized aluminum tubing.What advice tips and techeques work best.I have some welding back ground.I noticed that the commercial tops the welds are very shinny and mine are a bit dull. Do they have a secrete method or are they painting after wards??
thanks in advance
 
Anodizing is an electrochemical coating, what you're doing by welding the aluminum after its anodized is in effect removing the anodized coating. It surprises me that you are able to get any kind of a good looking weld by not grinding the finish away first.
I have sprayed a clear laquer over a repaired weld area but it won't last very long, especially around water, less if salt water.
Did you consider fabricating the top first and then getting it anodized? Keep in mind, to get the correct color match you have to use the correct filler material. Also, watch where your grounds are, any arcing either by striking the arc in the wrong place or a bad ground will show thru a lot more after anodizing, depending on the color...Mike
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

?
Replies
4
Views
295

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top