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previous: Steve Daniels (Small Bear Electronics) Re: Pictures! -- 6/17/2000 11:46 PM

don't use a car battery to anodize

6/18/2000 4:49 PM
Joe	don't use a car battery to anodize Using a car battery to anodize is not a good idea. If you accidentally short circuit the battery in the acid, the enormous current flow will cause the sulfuric acid to explode everywhere. Fuses at both battery terminals might prevent this, but it's still very risky. Car battery chargers are also a no-no. 18 volts is the proper voltage for aluminum. A regular 5-10 amp fused power supply w/isolation transformer can't produce the super-large current like a car battery and is safer. There are lots of technical issues, such as chlorine, temperature, strength of solution, dye, boiling, and other chemicals. Does your safety precaution list include a water hose, turned on, ready to go, in case you get acid in your eyes? Because if you can't get the hose on your eyes within 5 seconds, you will be blinded in 5 seconds. Does it include goggles and a chemical respirator so you don't burn your lungs and eyes to a crisp when you break out the sodium hydroxide? Be careful guys.

6/18/2000 4:49 PM

Joe

don't use a car battery to anodize

Using a car battery to anodize is not a good idea.

If you accidentally short circuit the battery in the acid, the enormous current flow will cause the sulfuric acid to explode everywhere. Fuses at both battery terminals might prevent this, but it's still very risky. Car battery chargers are also a no-no.

18 volts is the proper voltage for aluminum. A regular 5-10 amp fused power supply w/isolation transformer can't produce the super-large current like a car battery and is safer.

There are lots of technical issues, such as chlorine, temperature, strength of solution, dye, boiling, and other chemicals.

Does your safety precaution list include a water hose, turned on, ready to go, in case you get acid in your eyes? Because if you can't get the hose on your eyes within 5 seconds, you will be blinded in 5 seconds.

Does it include goggles and a chemical respirator so you don't burn your lungs and eyes to a crisp when you break out the sodium hydroxide?

Be careful guys.

Replies:

Jake Thanks for the warnings, Joe. Have... -- 6/18/2000 6:09 PM
Steve Daniels (Small Bear Electronics) Thanks for the notes. I did do some... -- 6/18/2000 10:21 PM