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Need to black anodize golf club head

2000

We make custom golf clubs and want to know what is involved in giving an aluminum club head a black anodize finish.

We want a black finish, dull or shiny is ok, that will not chip or crack.

Is there any prototype method we can use to test such a finish method. We have electrical engineering backgrounds with a basic chemical engineering background as well .

John S. Reese
golfing products - Ocala, Florida

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2000

Hi John,

What's involved in black anodizing? Nothing different from a clear anodize finish except for the dyes to color it black and some additional rinsing steps.

Its not difficult to do if that's what you're asking. As far as a desired finish. Considering your application and the stress that may be involved because of the club head hitting the golf ball (or in my case, not hitting it, I golfed once, I stink :)). I would suggest to you that you opt for a hardcoat black anodized finish. The coating is magnitudes thicker than a standard sulfuric anodize + black. Its like comparing a rubber wall to a cement one in terms of the characteristics of hardness, abrasion resist and likewise other properties. The processes are similar, but hard anodizing adds to the abilities of a standard anodize and makes it that much better.

You can get hardcoat black anodize done at probably any job shop anodizing companies in the US anymore. It's as common as standard anodizing.

Matthew Stiltner
plating shop - Toledo, Ohio