Anodizing

[rocksolid]

Can a chromed steel part be anodized? If not, is there a coloring process for steel or chrome to give it a similar finish?

[litnin]

Originally Posted by rocksolid

Can a chromed steel part be anodized? If not, is there a coloring process for steel or chrome to give it a similar finish?

Technically, the chroming process is anodizing.

There are different chemicals for anodizing different materials and achieving a certain hardness.

Yes, there are different colors available for chrome.
It's still a shiny nickle surface, but it will have a tint to it.
It's hard to describe, it it would look like regular chrome direct on, but
in the curves and edges it will have a colored tint.

[rocksolid]

Thanks Litnin,
I'm looking for a rich color like aluminum anodizing on a steel fender.
I saw a Harley this weekend with a basic gloss black paint job, but the chrome and aluminum parts such as the cases, rims, forks etc. where a rich red anodized color. I can understand the aluminum parts, but how did he get the same color on the chrome or maybe steel after the chrome was stripped. I wish I could have talked to him, but he was moving along. My description doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful! I've been thinking that my 83' might look pretty good done up like that.

[DoobieBrother]

It's not cheap, but these guys are supposed to be very good...

http://www.sumax.com

[litnin]

Originally Posted by rocksolid

Thanks Litnin,
I'm looking for a rich color like aluminum anodizing on a steel fender.
I saw a Harley this weekend with a basic gloss black paint job, but the chrome and aluminum parts such as the cases, rims, forks etc. where a rich red anodized color. I can understand the aluminum parts, but how did he get the same color on the chrome or maybe steel after the chrome was stripped. I wish I could have talked to him, but he was moving along. My description doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful! I've been thinking that my 83' might look pretty good done up like that.

Are you sure they weren't powder coated?

[louie]

Anodizing is specific to aluminum - it's actually a controlled surface oxidation of the aluminum to create a hard, protective film of aluminum oxide. Various chemicals can be added to create different colors.

Chroming is a plating process where a different metal is deposited on top of the base metal. Decorative chrome is usually added on top of a protective nickel layer (which is often added on top of a layer of copper). The chrome can be colored, but to do it to parts with existing plating might require that the parts be stripped back to bare metal and replated from scratch.

[rocksolid]

Originally Posted by litnin

Are you sure they weren't powder coated?

No, I can't be sure of anything about what this is. I'm only going by the color and the fact that the cases are aluminum. I have to wonder though, would powder coating stand up to the seals on the forks? Would it be too thick, or rub off?

I looked at the Sumax powdercoating and if the orange engine were deep red, that is what the finish looked like. Shiny rich color, with almost a wet appearance.

[rickbb]

If it was a high gloss color it was not anodizing, most likely power coating.

Like Louie said, anodizing is a corosive/oxidation process that produces a dull matt like finish, not glossy at all.

[louie]

rickbb - anodizing CAN produce a very glossy finish, it mainly depends on the color and the surface condition prior to anodizing. If you polish it up and make it nice and smooth before anodizing, it'll come out glossy, though it still won't have that "wet" look of a powder coat. The thing with anodizing is, it tends to build more on sharp edges than on flat surfaces, so any scratches or corners that might not have stood out before will POP out at you after.

[rocksolid]

Originally Posted by rickbb

If it was a high gloss color it was not anodizing, most likely power coating.

Like Louie said, anodizing is a corosive/oxidation process that produces a dull matt like finish, not glossy at all.

Ive been reading a bit, and they are coating anodized parts to protect the finish from acid rain. I imagine that could be glossy. If the forks were powder coated, would it work with the seals?