Anodizing stainless steel?

P

phil000

Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
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I've seen a few posts showing how to do titanium yet, no internet searches or searches on here have really said anything about anodizing stainless steel, I'd really like to try and get crazy with my new multitool handles and appreciate any answers I get from you all.


Thanks in advance,
Phil


Edit: http://www.finishing.com/332/36.shtml
he says yes, afultz says no...

:(
 
Unfortunately you can't anno stainless steel or any steel for that matter. To my knowledge the only metals that can be annodized are aluminum (most common) and titanium.
 
you can nitride it but i think you need an oven and ammonia (iirc) for that. you run it at 500°C or so for many hours so its expensive
 
Steel can be colored by heat, but its not a true anodize. When MIG welding galvanized steel I get some nice blues and purples but thats about it.

Here's my crappy lap weld bead, but you get the idea. A lower, more controlled heat should eliminate the brown at the outsides.
weld.jpg


I'd get a cheap blow torch and some scrap steel and start experimenting. It may be hard to get an even color, I've never tried.
 
you can't anodize stainless steel because anodizing is forming a hydroxide product on the surface and baking out the water. The iron hydroxide is not stable, so will not form at the right conditions.. anyway all of this is moot because stainless steel passivates itself to protect from corrsoion anyway.
 
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