Has anybody made an anodizing machine from a AC variac? I have a 140 volt ac
variac and was wondering if I could run it through some type of rectifier to get dc
voltage so I could anodize titanium.

Is this a good idea or not?

Any help would be appreciated.

Tony,
My Dad put together my anodizing system using an AC variac, I believe he used a Bridge diode (I think another name for it is a Full wave Rectifier) to convert it to DC.
I haven't had much chance to play with it yet but my first test pieces came out pretty good.
I will check with my Dad tomorrow to make sure I got this right.

L8R
Eric

Don't have any pictures do you of how you wire it all up do you? The variac I have has a standard plug receptical on it where you plug in a three prong 120 volt cord.
I was wondering how you hook it up. Do you just plug in to the variac and then strip the wires and attach them to the rectifier and then come off the + and - for your dc voltage? Or do you have to to through something else before you go to the rectifier?

Any more info would be a big help.

Radio Shack has the bridge rectifier SKU #1187 on their shelf (here anyway).
AC to transformer, transformer to rectifier, rectifier to output. A meter helps too.
I built both of mine for less than $50 each.

Here is a good site to learn how to set up a system.

wuarchive.wustl.edu/edu/a...odize.html (http://wuarchive.wustl.edu/edu/arts/metal/TOC/finishes/anodize.html)


This site shows you how to set up an anodizer. This is a very good explanation of the process and how to accomplish it.

It does not show you is how to convert A/C to D/C and Geno explains that above. The Bridge rectifier was $2.99 if I remember correctly.

I just got my variac and am building my system now, along with two gas forges a press, two belt grinders and a surface grinder. (####, I'm going to be busy for a while)

Good luck.

Bob, It sounds like you're golng to be a busy boy!