Why Your Surface Finish Matters
Anodizing Enhances — It Does Not Hide
The final anodized appearance is directly affected by the incoming surface finish of the material. Matte, blasted, tumbled, brushed, or dull surfaces will typically remain matte or dull after anodizing, while polished or smoother surfaces will produce a brighter, glossier appearance.
Anodizing does not function like paint or powder coating and will not hide scratches, machining marks, or surface imperfections. For the best cosmetic results, parts should be finish-ready prior to processing.
For the most consistent cosmetic results, parts should be clean, finish-ready, and reasonably free of excessive oils, grease, lubricants, adhesives, and debris prior to processing.
Type II Anodized Finishes
Type II anodizing is commonly used for decorative finishes, corrosion resistance, and lightweight wear protection. Parts can be left clear or dyed in a variety of colors including black, blue, red, gold, green, gray, bronze, orange, purple, turquoise, and more.
This finish is ideal for cosmetic, automotive, industrial, and consumer applications where appearance and durability are both important.
Different aluminum alloys can significantly affect the final appearance of the anodized finish, including color shade, brightness, texture, and consistency. Some alloys may anodize darker, lighter, duller, or with more variation than others depending on their material composition.
Type III Anodized Finishes (Hard Coat)
Type III hardcoat anodizing creates a thicker, more wear-resistant coating designed for demanding environments and high-use applications.
Hardcoat anodizing is commonly used for:
- firearms components
- automotive parts
- aerospace applications
- industrial equipment
- wear surfaces
Depending on alloy and thickness requirements, hardcoat finishes may vary slightly in appearance.
Our Process
Our Process
We maintain strict quality control throughout the anodizing process to ensure consistent results from one order to the next.
Our process includes:
- ultrasonic cleaning
- alkaline cleaning and etching
- deoxidizing and desmutting
- anodizing
- dyeing and sealing
- final inspection
We also utilize:
- deionized water rinse systems
- in-house/laboratory bath testing
- monitored filtration systems
- custom racking for a wide variety of parts
We offer a variety of finishes and colors for type II cosmetic and functional applications. Standard Colors Clear • Black • Blue • Red • Gold • Green • Gray • Orange • Purple Specialty Colors Bronze • Turquoise • Light Blue • Neon Pink • Not all anodized colors offer the same UV stability
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