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Welding tubing and color anodizing it without the weld marks showing

July 7, 2010

Is it possible to weld aluminum tubing before a light bronze color anodizing and not have the weld show through? Is there something special that must be done to the weld before anodizing beyond grinding and polishing to match the adjacent aluminum to minimize color differences? This is an application for a handrail.

David Altenhofen
Architect - Princeton, New Jersey

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First of two simultaneous responses -- July 9, 2010

No, if you really look at it close. It can be minimized with the correct choice of the weld filler rod, the minimum amount of heat to do a good job and done in an inert or vacuum environment.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- July 9, 2010

The resultant shade of dyed anodizing varies with the alloy, and your welding rod is surely different alloy. You may experiment with different welding alloys and get "closer" but you will never perfectly match.

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina