Finishing & Metalwork
Anodizing
Type II and Type III hardcoat anodizing for aluminum — a finish that's grown into the metal rather than laid on top of it. Corrosion resistance, a harder surface, and consistent color we can match across a set of parts.
Type II and Type III
Anodizing converts the surface of aluminum into a hard, integral oxide layer, so it can't chip or peel the way a coating can. Type II is the standard decorative-and-protective anodize that takes color well; Type III — hardcoat — builds a thicker, tougher layer for parts that see real wear. We'll match the type to how the part gets used.
Because it's an aluminum process, anodizing is the right answer for receivers, rails, and machined aluminum parts — not for steel. If your project is steel, parkerizing or Cerakote is the finish you're after, and we do both.
Matched across a set
The hard part of anodizing a multi-piece project is color consistency — an upper, a lower, and a handful of small parts anodized separately can come back three slightly different shades. We anodize in-house and run matched parts together, controlling the process so a set looks like a set.
How anodizing runs here
Assess the alloy
Not every aluminum alloy anodizes the same way. We confirm the part is a good candidate and set expectations on color before starting.
Strip & prep
Existing finish is removed and the surface is cleaned and prepped so the oxide layer forms evenly.
Anodize & seal
The part is anodized to the chosen type, dyed if colored, and sealed. Matched parts are run together for consistency.
Answers
Common questions
Can you anodize steel or a mixed-material build?
Anodizing only works on aluminum — it's a conversion of the aluminum surface itself. For steel parts, or a build that mixes materials, we'll match finishes another way, usually parkerizing or Cerakote for the steel so the whole project ends up looking right.
What colors can you do?
Basically any available color — we source dyes from the major chemical houses and can get to most colors, the same way factory gun manufacturers do. In-stock colors run immediately; a color we have to bring in and test adds about a week before the anodizing starts, and we'll tell you that up front.
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