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Redying Laser Marked Anodized Areas

I am laser marking black anodized surfaces using a 50 Watt IR laser that renders the original dye colorless. Is it possible to redye the laser marked areas using a different colored dye, for example bright red? Will I have to reseal the laser marked area or the redyed laser marked area?

George Rinard
signs, etc. - Longmont, Colorado, USA
April 1, 2008

The laser area might take a dye, but not anodize dye because you have destroyed the anodize layer. You could play around with some of the dyes for zinc and see what you get. My thought is that you will get a mess. Have you thought about silk screening. It will not be easy to get a perfect alignment, but it might work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
April 4, 2008

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