Chinese "gens"

[JohnG 41]

For future reference I am posting up useful links for dials, watch platforms, etc... here is one on DIY anodising - how about a navy blue anodised aluminum sandwich dial, lumed a la Pyrolume?

 

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml

 

http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/anodize.shtml

 

http://engineeringhobbyist.com/projects/completed/anodizing/

 

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html

[greg_r 81]

For future reference I am posting up useful links for dials, watch platforms, etc... here is one on DIY anodising - how about a navy blue anodised aluminum sandwich dial, lumed a la Pyrolume?

 

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml

 

http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/anodize.shtml

 

http://engineeringhobbyist.com/projects/completed/anodizing/

 

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html

 

Ack. Anodising is something I have quite a bit of experience with and is one process I would not want to do 'in the home' or even in a well-ventilated workshop - there's some pretty nasty chemistry involved and fumes can be very dangerous.

 

Back when I was involved in manufacturing, there were plenty of companies in most major towns who would anodise small quantities of small parts at relatively low cost (usually by putting them in with a larger job of the same colour) and that's the route I'd take if I needed something anodised nowadays.

[JohnG 41]

For future reference I am posting up useful links for dials, watch platforms, etc... here is one on DIY anodising - how about a navy blue anodised aluminum sandwich dial, lumed a la Pyrolume?

 

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml

 

http://www.warpig.com/paintball/technical/anodize.shtml

 

http://engineeringhobbyist.com/projects/completed/anodizing/

 

http://www.focuser.com/anodize.html

 

Ack. Anodising is something I have quite a bit of experience with and is one process I would not want to do 'in the home' or even in a well-ventilated workshop - there's some pretty nasty chemistry involved and fumes can be very dangerous.

 

Back when I was involved in manufacturing, there were plenty of companies in most major towns who would anodise small quantities of small parts at relatively low cost (usually by putting them in with a larger job of the same colour) and that's the route I'd take if I needed something anodised nowadays.

 

What? A little sulfuric acid never hurt anybody....

[sconehead 5]

Tell that to the Phantom of the Opera...

[trailboss99 994]

But Greg, where's the fun in having someone else do it? With the propper precautions it's remarkable easy. The hardest bit tis geting someone to sell you small amounts of dye. Best way is to request "samples" from manufacture.

 

Col.

[greg_r 81]

But Greg, where's the fun in having someone else do it? With the propper precautions it's remarkable easy. The hardest bit tis geting someone to sell you small amounts of dye. Best way is to request "samples" from manufacture.

 

Col.

 

Hmm - I've seen somebody try to do it in a small workshop with some, but not enough ventilation (my company used to do a lot of prototyping and one of our design engineers got a little over-enthusiastic with a pet project, despite being told in writing not to run the process on company premises). Some people are more sensitive than others - this guy wound up in hospital having been overcome by the fumes. Note that the fumes can be carcinogenic.

 

Some parts of the process can produce hydrogen as a by-product. There is a risk of fire, so keep anything that can create a spark (heaters particularly) turned off during the process.

 

If you have to try it at home, use an anodising tank with a mist suppressant. Make sure your ventilation is good - a simple fan vent isn't enough, you really need a proper vent system or fume hood.

 

Trust me, Col - this is something with which I have a lot of professional experience. It can be real dodgy if you don't approach it correctly.

[JohnG 41]

I plan on doing it (IF I do it), outdoors. I have a chicken coop that later will be expanded and roof raised and turned into a tool shed. I figured on doing it next to the shed (where I will have a power outlet).

 

As to dyes, I read on serveral of those links that clothing dyes work fine, though they may not be as long lasting as industrial dyes... They say the hard part is laying hands on quantities of acid, but that depends on the country I imagine... and state. One guy, also in the U.S. had no trouble buying five gallons from a battery wholesaler.

[mtt.tr 0]

hydrogen can be an issue my granddad use to do plating useing sulphuric acid and had a few explosions before

[greg_r 81]

I plan on doing it (IF I do it), outdoors. I have a chicken coop that later will be expanded and roof raised and turned into a tool shed. I figured on doing it next to the shed (where I will have a power outlet).

 

As to dyes, I read on serveral of those links that clothing dyes work fine, though they may not be as long lasting as industrial dyes... They say the hard part is laying hands on quantities of acid, but that depends on the country I imagine... and state. One guy, also in the U.S. had no trouble buying five gallons from a battery wholesaler.

 

Doing the job outside is a good plan, but I would still recommend taking precautions against breathing the stuff. A simple breather/respirator mask would probably be enough.

 

With regard to the chemistry, I dunno about Spain, but whilst you can't buy the stuff over the counter here in the UK, there are plenty of specialist suppliers. Try contacting Caswells if you get stuck: http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/

[trailboss99 994]

Greg, I would not even THINK of trying this without propper ventilation (I got a portable 10,000cfm PPV fan) and a good mask, not just a simple paper one, a full face job with specific acid gas filters(yes, I have one of those as well ). That way your whole face is protected but a conventional half face resprator and safety glases would do. A tyvec disposible chem suit would also be called for, just in case. After all, there about ten bucks from your friendly neibourhood paint store and also come in handy for that unexpected NBC emergency!

 

Col.

[greg_r 81]

I hear that one can do brain surgery at home too.... Any volunteers?

[JohnG 41]

I hear that one can do brain surgery at home too.... Any volunteers?

Oscar tried that on himself... and, well, we know how THAT turned out...

 

[greg_r 81]