Trim anodizing

[pu911]

I need to get a the trim that is under front and rear windows re-anodized. Anyone have any leads for shops that do this work. Alternately I'm a buyer for these is anyone has a nice set stashed away.

[Marine Blue]

I would start by searching for plating shops in your area, you might find one locally which would make it much easier. Also be mindful of their process. I recently had a set of lug nuts anodized black and while the finish is perfect it is now matte, not satin black. Apparently the stripping process leaves a matte finish and the anodizing takes on the surface appearance during plating.

[blucille]

check with www.fuchsrestoration.com it seems they are now doing window trim restoration.

That being said, years ago, I converted a car that had blacked out trim back to bright work, for those pieces it was far more economical to just buy new ones.

[Mike Andrew]

I believe that Shaun at TRU 6 does this process regularly at his facility. I would be cautious of local anodizing sources.

[David Inc.]

I'm actually looking to re-anodize my door window trim, but one guy told me not to bother anodizing as it will fade (mine did of course but took 30 years in Texas to do it). What was actually applied to the trim from the factory?

Edit: Is the black trim just painted black?

[onboost]

Originally Posted by Mike Andrew

I believe that Shaun at TRU 6 does this process regularly at his facility. I would be cautious of local anodizing sources.

^^ Shaun at TRU 6 = nough said!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Mike and Paul but I am the reason Phil is posting. I did the black anodizing for his cars but the top of door trim piece and quarter window trim for one of them didn't get done in time for the main package to ship. He's waited extremely patiently for a very long time for me to get them done. For me here it's been about the roller coaster of labor more than anything. Great example, hired two guys last week. One worked out well, other I had to let go. They were the only two who followed through on the online job posting. Nearly zero productivity last week training and overseeing them. Have to hire another ASAP. And the cycle continues.

But Phil's pieces will be done on Monday.

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by David Inc.

I'm actually looking to re-anodize my door window trim, but one guy told me not to bother anodizing as it will fade (mine did of course but took 30 years in Texas to do it). What was actually applied to the trim from the factory?

Edit: Is the black trim just painted black?

It’s anodized.

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by jac1976

It’s anodized.

Huh, this shop does a lot of automotive trim for hot rodders in the area and the owner tried to dissuade me from anodizing, suggesting powder coat instead. I wonder if there's something special about the factory anodizing?

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by David Inc.

Huh, this shop does a lot of automotive trim for hot rodders in the area and the owner tried to dissuade me from anodizing, suggesting powder coat instead. I wonder if there's something special about the factory anodizing?

Nothing special just more time and headache anodizing parts that are not new. Powder is cheap,quick and easy.
Probably about $5 in powder to do 911 trim with less chance of the final product not pleasing the customer.

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

Nothing special just more time and headache anodizing parts that are not new. Powder is cheap,quick and easy.
Probably about $5 in powder to do 911 trim with less chance of the final product not pleasing the customer.

Hm, might just go that route then as I already have a powder coater local that's done some nice work for me. Or just brand new? Not that expensive it seems. Thanks.

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

Nothing special just more time and headache anodizing parts that are not new. Powder is cheap,quick and easy.
Probably about $5 in powder to do 911 trim with less chance of the final product not pleasing the customer.

A LOT less prep needed for powder coat. It's the way to go for quick, easy and cheap but won't look right if you want it to look right.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by mepstein

A LOT less prep needed for powder coat. It's the way to go for quick, easy and cheap but won't look right if you want it to look right.

Cerakote glacier black will work.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Powder coating and Porsche should never be in the same sentence unless it's something like, I just stripped all the powder coating off my (fill in piece here) on the 911...

For later painted frames, just take them to a body shop and have them stripped and repainted. We use Cerakote for painted frames, and for door handles, wipers, fresh air screen (was originally anodized), rocker end caps, etc. It's a little more elegant, very durable and will never fade. After doing some exhaustive testing, with even mixing blacks and clears into blacks, I chose Cerakote's Cobra Black, V-166. It is the nicest satin black of all 100% UV safe blacks they offer. Bonus, it's good for up to 1800ºF so it will withstand random erupting volcanoes and nuclear attacks outside the blast radius. And you can change the gloss character on how you shoot it which you can't do with Cerakote's C series.

Fun fact, many owners think door handles were originally anodized black. They are actually die cast zinc and were plated with black zinc chromate. Given pitting and that the pH required for the original look can't/won't be dialed in at the plater, Cerakote is the obvious solution. Great silky look and feel to them too.


Pics below of anodizing and Cobra Black. Lighting for blacks is everything so these aren't the best pics under fluorescent lights. Need to take some outside shots someday.

[Marine Blue]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Powder coating and Porsche should never be in the same sentence unless it's something like, I just stripped all the powder coating off my (fill in piece here) on the 911...

For later painted frames, just take them to a body shop and have them stripped and repainted. We use Cerakote for painted frames, and for door handles, wipers, fresh air screen (was originally anodized), rocker end caps, etc. It's a little more elegant, very durable and will never fade. After doing some exhaustive testing, with even mixing blacks and clears into blacks, I chose Cerakote's Cobra Black, V-166. It is the nicest satin black of all 100% UV safe blacks they offer. Bonus, it's good for up to 1800ºF so it will withstand random erupting volcanoes and nuclear attacks outside the blast radius. And you can change the gloss character on how you shoot it which you can't do with Cerakote's C series.

Fun fact, many owners think door handles were originally anodized black. They are actually die cast zinc and were plated with black zinc chromate. Given pitting and that the pH required for the original look can't/won't be dialed in at the plater, Cerakote is the obvious solution. Great silky look and feel to them too.


Pics below of anodizing and Cobra Black. Lighting for blacks is everything so these aren't the best pics under fluorescent lights. Need to take some outside shots someday.

Wow, stunning! Good to know regarding the cerakote finish for satin black.

[7783911]

if one doesnt have a spay gun is there another option to apply Cerakote, i just need to touch up the trim strips on the top of the door panel (taga)

[scootermcrad]

On a tangent, what about going the OTHER way to a "bright" finish? I have a nice set of trim and was going to strip the black, polish them and have them clear anodized. My experience with polishing and leaving raw is that it won't be long before they have to be done again, so they need to be coated. Does modern clear anodizing look correct, or does it leave a finish or sheen different from factory?

Also, for those stripping and refinishing (black or bright), has anyone tried just using Easy Off? I've used this in the past for removing anodized coatings with ease (despite the cleanup), but was curious how it might act with the factory coatings.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

If your frames are painted, they can't be aesthetically anodized. Porsche went to a cheaper porous aluminum alloy that turns splotchy and cloudy when anodized.

Black anodized frames can be stripped, sanded and polished bright and anodized. Same aluminum as bright.

[scootermcrad]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

If your frames are painted, they can't be aesthetically anodized. Porsche went to a cheaper porous aluminum alloy that turns splotchy and cloudy when anodized.

Black anodized frames can be stripped, sanded and polished bright and anodized. Same aluminum as bright.

Good to know! I'm honestly not sure what generation of trim/frames I have, they were on my car when I got them, which is a basket case in itself. Guess the only way I'll know is to try and strip one and see what happens.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

if your door hoops have this bevel, it can't be anodized (aesthetically)