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Alternatives to hand polishing aluminum [South Carolina] 

November 10, 2007

I own a small scale anodizing company. We specialize in paintball markers and smaller parts. Hand buffing multiple pieces daily is getting cumbersome, dirty, and slowing us down.

Over the last few days, I have been searching online about tumbling, bright dip, and electropolishing. Bright dip is not for us, but I cannot find too much info on Electropolishing or tumbling.

Can anyone suggest good books still in publication or websites that explain the chemicals involved and a guide.

Shaun Hoskinson
Anodizing shop owner - Taylors, SC

Brite dipping and electropolishing are usually done on aluminum that has had at least some mechanical finishing first, Shaun. There is pretty good info on electropolishing of aluminum in ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 5

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ