Anodizing?

[stu]

Anyone know where I can get anodizing done locally? Does it cost an arm and a leg?

[Jai SI]

It looks like it's a pain in the ass from what they had posted up on superhonda, before the site was down. What do you need done? Oh yeah while I'm here did you cousin get all set up with that tint?

[stu]

I want to anodize my intercooler. And my cousin has the number, but I don't know if he's called him yet.

[Jai SI]

God your turbo project is going pretty damn fast, maybe I need a job at Papa John's.

[gothemperf]

Advanced Surface Technologies 303.432.8500

Denver Metel Finishing 303.295.1380

S&S Anodizing 303.744.0480

Specialty Plating Inc. 303.744.8454

[Prelude97]

Do you want it black?

[stu]

Yes I want it black.

Jai: It's not so much that I make a lot of money as it is that I only have one bill really. Her name is Jessica.

[Jai SI]

:rofl:

So true.

[saabracr]

Anodizing is not the most durable option. Is your IC a front mount? Rock chips will look pretty bad after a while. I would suggest one of Swain Technologies offerings. They have processes specifically designed for intercoolers. This option involves shipping though. Best of luck.

Andy

[Jai SI]

I'd almost go for a powder coated front mount. I don't know if that's possible or anything, but if I had to "paint" I'd try for powdercoat.

[stu]

NO, you can't use powder coating becuase it ruins the heat dispersing properties of the aluminum. I want to anodize it black so you can't see it as well, but I'm not going to sacrifice effeciency just to make it black. Even just regular paint could affect it. I guess I could just get a black grill though right?

[Bedlam]

I've seen a few tests where the black ones actually performed a bit better. Who knows however..its going to soak up sunlight! from somewhere! or something..

A properly anodized finish shouldnt come off, its formed a very, very, hard chemical bond with the aluminum..thats actually harder than the aluminum itself. I suppose you might chip it someday..but intercoolers get fucked up after a while regardless. I say go with the anodizing if you can find somewhere to do it...it shouldnt be all THAT expensive.

-Bedlam

[djet820]

Wouldnt' you want it white stu? So it matches your cavalier.

[Mario]

Originally posted by djet820
Wouldnt' you want it white stu? So it matches your cavalier.

I thought the Cavi was blue? Or maybe I am just smokin somethin.

Anyways, yea, you don't wanna paint or powdercoat because of the reasons you mentioned. And Stu, you are going for quite the sleeper here eh?

[Mark_H]

I have heard you can use a "laquer" paint to paint intercoolers. It apparently does not affect the heat distribution properties of alluminum for odd reason. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. The laquer apparently lets heat in and out without affecting the actual intercooler at all(or very little)
Mark

[gothemperf]

Anodizing increases the emissivity of aluminum, quite significantly in fact. Figure bare surface aluminum has an effective emissivity of .10 up to .30 when heavily oxidized, and then compare that to an effective emissivity between .82-.88 when anodized and it becomes rather significant percentage wise.

[stu]

Okay, now in english. ;)

[JDX]

yes please elaborate on that, I'd also like to do the same thing, I was going to powder coat a mesh grill in front of the intercooler either a black or a gun metal color much like my rims but I figured that the chrome of the intercooler would easily show through so I was planning on doing something to that too but I knew paint or powder coating would probably screw up the cooling... Oh yeah and while I'm at it, if anyone is looking to sell a blow off valve of any tipe or a tial 35mm wastegate, call me at 720-404-5572

[gothemperf]

'Emissivity' is the ratio of actual energy emitted by a surface compared to what it "should" be according to Planck’s law. The closer the ratio is to 1.0 or 100%, the more energy that is emitted; less energy is emitted as the figure aproaches 0 in value.

[gothemperf]

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/turbo/intercooler.html

If we examine the first equation given in the nifty article above:

Q = U x A x DTlm

We can observe that by increasing emissivity of the intercooler surface, we are increasing value ‘U’, which translates into a lower temperature exiting the intercooler(because of increased energy transfer). How much really depends on the specifics of the set up.

[gothemperf]

Originally posted by JDX
the chrome of the intercooler

Just as a note, a polished surface has less effective emissivity than a "rough" one. Polished Aluminum is in the .04-.06 range as compared to the already mentioned .10-.30 range for a "plain”/oxidized surface. Hopefully just the outward facing edges of the tubes are polished and not the fins.

[saabracr]

I accidentally scratched the coating of a friend's newly anodized intake the other day. After seeing what has happened to my front mount from road debris, only over one summer, I can't imagine that it would hold up well.

For conspicuity, it would be best to get a black grille of some kind, and mount the IC as far back as possible. Paint (or otherwise color) your pipes/connectors/clamps black as well. Have fun.

Andy

[JDX]

thanks for the advice guys, I was just thinkin' that maybe if I put a tightly webbed grill infront of it that would still alow some good air flow but hopefully stop as many rocks from hitting it then I could get away with the anodizing because less chance of it getting chipped by the flying piles of shit :)