First Anodized Pick

[cowbite]

I had a hard time getting the test pieces to anodize. I still don't have it down to a science yet but now I know what my problems were/are and shouldn't have that kind of trouble next time.

The pick is kinda dirty in the first pic...I got sloppy it seems but that's ok.



Cow

[geardog32]

wow that really looks good. what do you use to make the actual pick part of it?

[Unsightly Picks]

Might have been contact points, i anodized some aluminum rings a long time ago for a backpack and in my experience proper contact is usually the issue. The pick looks excellent, well done ^.^

[Moosekace]

Lovin it man! Very cool! Something fresh!

[Schuyler]

Just gorgeous cowbite.

[Brother Paul]

very nice

[femurat]

Excellent job!

You could look for more "flat" screws. The head of your hex screws could be in line with the handle, giving a more professional look to your tools.
This is just a suggestion, don't take it bad: I do like your picks!

Cheers

[rontgens]

It looks almost as if that pick could fold up into itself like a pocket knife. I know it doesn't but I like the anodize look its a great looking pick.

[cowbite]

Excellent job!

You could look for more "flat" screws. The head of your hex screws could be in line with the handle, giving a more professional look to your tools.
This is just a suggestion, don't take it bad: I do like your picks!

Cheers

Yeah this pick was made with what I could quickly get locally or what I had on hand. Future picks will have flush screws.

[raimundo]

Or you could glue the screws into place after screwing them tight, then just flatten the heads with a belt sander, work slow, let the piece cool between hits on the belt, to keep from screwing up the glue with the heat.

What happens if you anodize partially in one color and finish in another color? can you get a camoflage look, or some mottled surface? I suppose you could if you used a resist to keep parts of it from equal coloring,
wouldn't a knurled or otherwise textured surface make the anodizing last longer in the low spots while letting it wear on the high spots.

[cowbite]

Or you could glue the screws into place after screwing them tight, then just flatten the heads with a belt sander, work slow, let the piece cool between hits on the belt, to keep from screwing up the glue with the heat.

The problem with that is that you can't sand them flush and not abrade the already anodized handles. And you can't really anodize the whole thing because you'd just corrode the already pristinely polished pick blade.

What happens if you anodize partially in one color and finish in another color? can you get a camoflage look, or some mottled surface? I suppose you could if you used a resist to keep parts of it from equal coloring,

Yeah you would have to use a resist in the areas you want to mask, then re-anodise and re-dye in another color.
How the second or third dyings (and anodizings) would affect the first anod/dye session I couldn't say. From what I've read already anodized areas won't re-anodize without it being stripped off first so maybe it wouldn't have any effect on previously dyed areas?

wouldn't a knurled or otherwise textured surface make the anodizing last longer in the low spots while letting it wear on the high spots.

Yeah it would and that would be a pretty cool effect particularly if you worked towards that end, like if you put backstrapping like you find on the rear of pistol grips (checkerboard-y hashmarks but fairly deep) then rubbed 1500 +sandpaper over it lightly or even just burnished it with something you could fade the most elevated areas keeping the deepest areas the darkest.

MAN I wish I had a fully stocked shop!

Cow