I've been to Jason's tutorial about anodizing, but still have some technical questions that I couldn't find answers to there. What amp range is needed if making one? ...and any other tech info that could be helpful in constructing a machine.

Thanks.

Steve

My anodizer has a variac that puts out 0-140AC. Converted to DC with the bridge rectifier as Jason shows. Output of variac is 5 amps and it works just fine. I hooked up a volt meter to mine so I could see the voltage needed to obtain certain colors and I can sneek up on them faster than just turning and watching. I also have an amp meter on mine. http://www.warnerknives.com/Anodizer.jpg
Hope this helps.

Bob; that looks like a very nice set-up you have there. That is very helpful, thank you. After posting this question today I did a little more research and came up with this brief how-to by Curtis Wilson ( wileknives.com/index13.html (http://wileknives.com/index13.html) ). It looks like he may be setup with voltmeter/amp guage too maybe.

This brings up another note of interest; I've heard tell of a female knifemaker from a few years back that used some kind of *anodizing brush(?)* to enhance her work. They talked like it worked like a paint brush, where you could just brush on different colors. Does anyone know of this, and where I can find additional info??

Thanks again.

Steve

The technique you're referring to is called anodic painting. I do it on some of my folders.

All that is required is some kind of brush or pad to use as a paintbrush. I generally use a large artists style paint brush with horse hair or other natural material. Get a brush with a metal ferrule on it and solder a wire to the ferrule.

Attach the wire that normally goes to the stainless steel screen in your solution tank to the titanium part. Attach the other wire to the paint brush (I think I got that right. If it's wrong it won't work but nothing is harmed).

Dip the brush in the solution and paint the titanium. It will take practice to get the right size brush for the type of effect you want. and to learn how wet things should be.

Have fun with it...

Here's one:

http://www.rayrogers.com/rainbow.jpg

Steve,I think the woman in question is Judy Beaver,she is knifemaker "Butch"Beavers wife,and a most talented artist,she would "paint" cliff dwellings or what ever on TI scales,she is the best at it that I have seen.I believe that Butch and Judy moved from New River AZ,to somewhere in eastern TN.