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Anodised keys

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nemop3

Newbie

Posts: 13

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2022 12:31 pm

Post Wed Dec 14, 2022 1:11 pm

Anodised keys

Collecting a number of keys for different properties, I can slim them down a bunch to just the front door entry keys, but if I colour code them with silicone tabs it doubles their thickness.

My view was then simply cut them from a coloured or patterned key, but not all keys can be.

So I then came up with the idea to anodise them, but this process is expensive and can only be applied to aluminium keys.

It's about £60-£80 for one process, but if each key is to be a different colour then it isn't economical. I checked online and there are a number of caustic chemical used, with varying results, so I'd prefer to get it done commercially.

Any ideas on anodising, or perhaps electroplating ?
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Visitor

Active Member

Posts: 285

Joined: Sat Sep 16, 2017 5:48 am

Post Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:25 am

Re: Anodised keys

Anodising can easily and safely be done at home without issue. If you would prefer not to do it you can degrease your keys and use spray paint.
You can of course use already anodised keys but as you touch on in your post they are normally aluminium and quite weak in comparison to normal keys.
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nemop3

Newbie

Posts: 13

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2022 12:31 pm

Post Mon Dec 19, 2022 6:00 pm

Re: Anodised keys

I actually came across these patterned and coloured keys, but they were about £10 a pop (which included cutting) and only for use with some of my keys:

patternedKeys.png



I may look into anodising, but I was initially put off by the chemicals and the process.
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nemop3

Newbie

Posts: 13

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2022 12:31 pm

Post Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:44 pm

Re: Anodised keys

I was told today that attempting to colour an Asec key would be dangerous as the groove pattern was so thin that it would simply split off.

Given the harsh chemical involved in anodysing, would a common Asec pattern survive ?

Would it be best to so this before cutting, with the tradeoff being that the cut area would not be coloured ?
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Visitor

Active Member

Posts: 285

Joined: Sat Sep 16, 2017 5:48 am

Post Sat Dec 24, 2022 4:01 am

Re: Anodised keys

Ive never had any problems with thin stuff, annodising hardens the material being coloured as well so probably less likey to break. If youre that worried put some tape around the blade and just annodise the heads. The 'chemicals' really aren't that harsh, especially when you consider what some people get up to in there living rooms. It's just battery acid that you can buy from most garages.
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nemop3

Newbie

Posts: 13

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2022 12:31 pm

Post Sat Dec 24, 2022 9:35 am

Re: Anodised keys

I'm much prefer to completely colour the key.

So there's no structural difference between anodising before (blank) or after (cut) ?
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GWiens2001

User avatar

Lock-Goblin-Gordon
Lock-Goblin-Gordon

Posts: 3795

Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:05 pm

Location: Arizona, United States

Post Sat Dec 24, 2022 9:58 am

Re: Anodised keys

If you read visitors post directly above yours, he states that anodizing hardens the material as well as colors it.

Gordon
Just when you think you've learned it all, that is when you find you haven't learned anything yet.

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