Anodizing hubs?
 

I am planning on having some parts anodized and I am wondering if I have to have the races pulled out of the hub shells before I have the hubs done? I think that the ano dye will just dye the aluminum hub shells but I wonder if the ferrous races will cause a reaction in the process.

I am not sure but the anodizer should know. I am interested in knowing where your having this done as i would love to have a stem, seatpost and maybe brake levers anodized.

I will post up the info as I learn more.

Yes, it's my understanding that you must remove the steel races. Only aluminum can go into the anodizing tank.

Source: I've been researching anodizing and zinc plating, DIY.

Ferrous metals will mess with the electro-mojo. No go.

I wonder if you can coat them with some non-conductive material. Some conformal coating or other - say, "liquid electrical tape", spray conformal silicone (one that will dry/polymerize), etc?

I've read that forged items do not anodize uniformly. CNC'd hubs are often anodized. I don't see that done so much with forged items (cranks, stems, hubs). I could be wrong, but that is what I've read. Ask your anodizer carefully.

Yes you have to remove the races first, no steel bits can go in the tanks.

You have to remove any ferrous bits on any aluminum parts that need anodizing. Also The better the alloy of aluminum the better the results. I worked in a plating shop during the summer when I was in high school. It was a very interesting and dangerous place. We did anodizing in blue, red, gold, green and clear. Plus chrome and gold plating.

this guy reanodized his stem himself , you may enjoy this thread-its in german...

http://nyx.at/bikeboard/Board/showth...stral-Reloaded

Anodizing looks good but what about powder coating? No need to remove anything. It's also very tough stuff and doesn't wear as much as anodizing.