Side Molding Anodizing Process

[tdangle]

The trim on my 70 is in pretty good shape except a couple of small pieces that I'll need to replace. I'm going to refurbish them as 40 years of sitting outside have dulled them quite a bit as well as the black paint has scratches and is pretty worn. Question is, are the pieces polished and anodized then the black paint applied or paint applied and anodized after? I have a connection to a local place that I can get the anodizing done, just have not spoken to them yet. Waiting for my reference to talk to them.

[basketcase]

You can't anodize over paint. It's an electrolytic passivation process applied to the surface of the metal. It can be clear or in most any color. For aluminum moldings that are clear anodized and have black paint features the anodizing is done first to the base metal. I had all of the black anodized moldings on my wife's 1977 T/A Special Edition re done when I restored it and they had to be clean when I dropped them at the shop. No paint, tar or anything else on the surface.

Tom

[tdangle]

Kinda what I thought. Do you think the black is also anodized or just painted

[LS short box]

I have the Mar-k side moldings and black paint is applied after the anodizing. When the parts go into the tank there isn't any way to control where the color goes. I used to work for a company that has a plating shop. I'd be happy to ask them if you want me to.