My results with DIY Splash Ano on a Black Magic Reg

[gogi19]

I recently picked up a 05 pro stock that was in questionable shape; had idiot marks all over the reg and gummy seals throughout.


I'd always been interested in trying diy plating or ano at home and figured the reg was a good a test as any as it needed a rebuild. I followed the typical steps:

• Used small files and sanding drums on dremel to remove gouges.
• de-ano'd in a lye mix (2 tsp for 1 quart of DI water),
• buffed with a 180 scotchbrite wheel on a dremel
• degreased with simple green, re-etched for 1-2 minutes in lye
• de-smut in sulfuric acid (nitric was recommended but the battery acid was all i had)
• ano'd @ 2amps for 1.5 hours before dipping in dye (lead strip anode, ~10-15% sulfuric acid dilution)
• dipped in Rit dye @ 140F for about 10 minutes

Here are the results, any tips are appreciated. I originally wanted to do black with green splash but I could not get the black dye to adhere. I'm guessing I either dipped into the green a little too hot (thermometer was around 140-150F when I dipped) or the Clorox bleach-based bathroom cleaner I used to strip the green (my pure bleach was old and inert when I opened it so I had to improvise) contaminated the ano layer with a surfactant or other chemical which preventing the black dye from adhering. I did try to rinse in degreaser and distilled water again but no joy.

In all, I'm about 90% satisfied; the gouges are gone and the green splash on raw aluminum looks pretty good but won't really match the sage & black scheme of the prostock. If I do it again I would definitely 1) get new bleach ,2) order some specialty ano dye or at least a sage color green Rit dye to more closely color match, 3) spend a little more time on the surface finish (maybe buy a bench buffer/wire wheel), 4) remember to take better before pics so I can feel better about the finished product . Thank for passing through and any tricks&tips are appreciated.

Before:


Intermediate Steps:






After:

[SniperPedik]

honestly looks really good, nicely done!

[gogi19]

Thanks! The fact that I didn't completely bork it up or give myself chemical burns is a win in my book

[KMDPB]

Looks great! How long did you keep the part in the black dye? I find black dye takes way longer to absorb than other colors most dyes I do for about 10 mins or less black takes 1 to 2 hours even when heated

[gogi19]

I tried for about 45 minutes. If you look closely, the top cap was taking on some of the black dye but the reg body was barely tinted.

That's good to know though, maybe I should have just upped the concentration of the dye and let it sit longer. The dye dilution I used was about 35 ml for 1 quart of distilled water for the first run, then I added an additional 35ml of dye for the second try ( so about 1/4 bottle of dye for 1 quart of water).

I was just discouraged because, like you said, the green looked super vibrant after about 10 minutes with the same mix ratio (added a picture up top).

[Tpenn]

Looks good!

[gogi19]

Thanks! I'm hoping I can pick up some other markers or parts in rough shape and give them the same treatment. It's a fun process.