Anodized aluminum tank

[NCAmother]

Just curious if anyone has or has seen a clear anodized aluminum tank.  I have a partially polished/ partially raw tank the I just want a clear anodizing.  I've seen clear laquers and clear powder coats that turn yellow.  I called Ano-tech and asked for some advice, what I want is a military spec clear anodize.  I was told the anodizing makes the tank look titanium (good in my book) but you lose luster on the polished parts.  (They do a chemical etching prior to the anodizing)  Anyone see a clear anodized tank?

[lucky phil]

 :beat_horse
I think the issue will be that the grade of aluminium they use to build tanks will not be anodiseable.
Ciao

[Triple Jim]

:beat_horse
I think the issue will be that the grade of aluminium they use to build tanks will not be anodiseable.
Ciao

It's normally not that it can't be anodized, but that it won't be a bright, clear coating.

[jrt]

I would think a shiny aluminum tank would be too distracting/blinding to drive on a sunny day.

[NCAmother]

It's normally not that it can't be anodized, but that it won't be a bright, clear coating.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. 

[lucky phil]

It's normally not that it can't be anodized, but that it won't be a bright, clear coating.

Thats what I meant. 2000 series sheet can be anodised but it leaves a powdery residue/surface which is effectivley rubbish.
Ciao   

[NCAmother]

Malleable alloys like 5000 and 6000 series can be anodized.  These are usually the series used in hand formed tanks.

[boatdetective]

You can anodize it easily enough- but the surface won't look like a mirror anymore.

[Moto Fugazzi]

Newer automotive paints are catalyzed and UV resistant (according to my painter) and should hold up well. Everything I've had that was anodized has faded to a weird color over time.
Ken

[Triple Jim]

Everything I've had that was anodized has faded to a weird color over time.

Most of the anodizing you see is clear anodized, and then dyed to color with an organic dye.  Those dyes fade over time, sometimes pretty quickly, especially if exposed to sunlight.  There are anodizing processes that create the color in the oxide coating, and it won't fade.  Unfortunately those colors are not always desirable.  The Martin Hardcoat process makes a dark grey color that won't fade on alloys like 6061, and that can look good in some applications.

The good news is that anodizing of any color is a porous oxide coating, and makes a great base for paint.  Where aluminum is often difficult to get paint to adhere to in the long term, anodized aluminum usually isn't difficult.

[NCAmother]

Thanks guys, the process I was looking at was what Jim mentioned, where the color does change to a darker color, many layers of anodizing.  Price quoted was cheap (in my opinion) at $180.  I didn't know about fading, but that makes sense.  I'm starting to think I'll just keep the tank as is, but I appreciate everyones help :)

[Triple Jim]

Just to clarify, if you get the Martin Hardcoat type, it will be opaque, matte, and depending on alloy, probably dark grey.  That type of anodizing is often used when you need a hard, wear-resistant surface.  The oxide layer is way thicker than decorative anodizing, and can be around one thousandth of an inch thick.

[NCAmother]

Just to clarify, if you get the Martin Hardcoat type, it will be opaque, matte, and depending on alloy, probably dark grey.  That type of anodizing is often used when you need a hard, wear-resistant surface.  The oxide layer is way thicker than decorative anodizing, and can be around one thousandth of an inch thick.

Ah, it might be different than what I heard.  Ano-Tech offers the decorative single pass anodizing, and also a military spec multiple step process where the aluminum is chemical etched beforehand, and goes thru many different washes.  According to the person I talked to, they call this hard coating and is often used in abusive environments, like the boat industry, aero industry, and military .
This is my half rough/knee polished tank I was thinking of getting the hard coat 
How do you expect the Martin Hardcoat will affect the polished part, will it look like a dark satin?

[Triple Jim]

The hardcoat anodizing I've had done will completely hide the aluminum like dark grey paint.  If your plater mentioned "hardcoat", he was probably referring to the Martin process.  He does it for a living though, so he's the one to ask about the final appearance.  I had it done to 6061-T6, and the chances are your tank is a different alloy.