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Is it cheaper to get myself set up to annodize my own parts, or to just have someone else do them. Currently, I have 2 uppers, a buffer tube, 2 delta rings, a charging handle and 2 mag release buttons to do. I do plan on doing an 80% lower or two in the future. How hard is it to set up and do? To get the right color?
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Type 2 isn't that hard, nor expensive to do.
The hardest part is keeping the acid bath cool enough ~70 degrees. It's hot in Louisiana so I went out at 2am in the morning to do most of my work. The advanced setups have chillers. I used a small fan to keep the cool night air blowing over my jar. I went with a tall glass jar so that I could put it in the fridge for a few minutes when the wife was asleep.
Now to anodize large things like a receiver you need more amps. Your amp value is dependent on the surface area of the part to be worked on. You would need a large bucket to do a receiver because it will heat up the solution quickly because of the higher amps. A larger volume of bath will help keep the solution cooler for longer but the outside air temperature should also be low to help keep it cool.
Chillers are used on nicer setups to cool. I've also seen some people insulate their buckets to help protect them from warmer ambient air.
Fish tank bubblers are also used by many hobbyiest to keep the acid bath and the dye bath agitated.
Battery Acid from autozone was around $10. A couple of these should do.
The lab power supply I have goes up to 4amps. It was ~$30 on ebay.
The rest of the stuff you might can get around the house. Lye, De-greaser (I like pressurized break cleaner), rubber gloves, lab thermometer that goes up to 200F, large pots, Distilled Water, Baking Soda. Aluminum wire, Aluminum blocks of various surface area.
I think you can get TYPE 2 setup like mine that can anodize a receiver for ~$100. I plan to try this myself eventually.
Here is my home anodized trigger guard and delta ring from the setup I posted above.