Artists Anodizing Aluminum. - book reviews

Whole Earth Review, Fall, 1989 by J. Baldwin

Artists Anodizing Aluminum

Artists? Aluminum? Well, yes, of course. Why should aluminum be any different than bronze or, for that matter, silver? A look around a handmade-arts store these days will show that the metal is enjoying a new popularity in jewelry, sculpture and a variety of imaginative tableware. This handbook is a complete instruction for coloring aluminum, and you'd be surprised at what sublte things can be done. As part of a developing tradition rather than serving an established one, the book is revealing, funky (you can do the deed with a battery charger and a deep-fat fryer!), and friendly -- just what you'd expect from a master craftsman who got tired of answering questions, yet wanted to share his bench-won knowledge. There's a good bibliography, glossary, materials source list and safety discussion (there are toxic substances involved). Exciting and professional.

This is a simple anodizing set-up. The battery charger is located in the back left with the ammeter to the right. The ammeter is wired in series with the positive electrode. The 1 quart plastic container in the front contains the sulfuric acid/water electrolyte and has 2 lead cathodes. A 10-12 gauge copper wire (equal to the maximum amperage of the power supply, 10 amps = 12 gauge wire) connects the 2 lead cathodes together. The bus bas is 1/4" thick X 1" wide X 8" long. Black electrician's tape covers the right end of the bus bar. This tape build-up prevents the bus bar from falling into the electrolyte. The positive clamp from the battery charger is attached to one end of the bus bar, while the negative clamp is attached to the lead sheet (negative electrode). An extruded aluminum angle is clamped to the bus bar with a spring clamp. A clamp may be the most obvious method to attach the work piece to the bus bar. To anodize large strips or sheet, simply clamp the aluminum to the bus bar. Clean the bus bar before each anodizing. Clean the bus bar with scotch bright and water. Do this cleaning in the sink away from the electrolyte to minimize contamination.