AggieDave 6 #1 March 3, 2003 A couple weeks ago, I was discussing the possibility of getting anodized hardware put on rigs. Has anyone tried this or any manufactures looked into this? Personally, I think it would be pretty sweet to have the hardware on my rig anodized green, and I think that if this was offered by manufactures, jumpers would probably get it. Sort of like getting stainless hardware now.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #2 March 3, 2003 Was thinking about this not too long ago as well. Would be a sweet option if they offered it.____________________ Say no to subliminal messages Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 March 3, 2003 Getting it certified again is going to be expensive. Plus the fact that unless you get into some pricey block Aluminum is'nt the best materal for shock loadings. I am wondering what the tensile strength of the steel that is used now is.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billdo 0 #4 March 3, 2003 I thought this too. It would be sweet, but anodizing can only be done on aluminum, no steel or stainless steel from what I was told. Anodizing is an electro-plating process. Is this correct? You see climbing carabiners anodized with colors but those are of course aluminum. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 March 3, 2003 I thought anodizing could be done to some steels... edit: Did some google searching, and aparently Anodized Steel is out there, quite a bit of it actually. From what I can gather its done to stainless steel and surgical steel.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
councilman24 37 #6 March 3, 2003 I've seen steel called "anodized", but they really just mean colored, usually by some other process and usually black. I've also seen descriptions of anodizing steel, but by plating it with aluminum first. Here's a pretty good explination.http://www.docsmachine.com/tech/anod.html Anodized hardware HAS been available. The chrysalis release used by ParaPhernalia on the Northern Lite was available, at least to a limited extent, anodized. There's a couple of those rigs around here in closets somewhere. Of couse the metal parts were aluminum.I'm old for my age. Terry Urban D-8631 FAA DPRE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rigging65 0 #7 March 3, 2003 I did ALOT of research on this, as we were considering offering colored hardware on the new Viper. This is what I found out. True "anodization" is only done on aluminum, which means you'd be introducing a new hardware, which means LOTS of testing and paperwork (read:$$$$). I'd also assume, although I have nothing to back this up with, that if the military hasn't converted to aluminum (as they're constantly trying to reduce weight) there is probably a reason...again, I have nothing to confirm this...maybe someone out there does? I also looked into color-plating existing materials. There is a Cad. process that lets you add color, but it (like all Cad. plating) is rather toxic and so costs $$$$, and you have to get rather large quantities of each item...more than anyone but the biggest MFGs. could handle...and it's only in one color. Many Hardware MFGs are also fazing out Cad. plated products (for cost reasons $$$) which is why some rig companies have been batting around the idea of going all SS or Nickle. Additionally, the colors in the Cad. process were pretty lame. Not like in the anodization market. I had a couple of companies very interested in trying to work with us on it, but, let's face it, skydiving just isn't a big enough industry to foot the bill for something this grand. At least not the way it was laid out for me. So, sorry guys, unless one of the other MFGs out there has found some other way to do it, you're pretty much stuck with what we've got already...although we'll most likely have black hardware available, as there is some of that floating around out there from Military lots. Personally, I think it would be a super-hot option, but sometimes the $$$ just don't outweigh the cents. "...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you long to return..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unisyn 0 #8 March 3, 2003 You can actually get Nickle hardware in different colors. I have seen samples of RED, Royal blue, Gold, and shiny black done with a nickle finish. It isn't a question of re certify but the cost of stocking the hardware. You have to order a large quantity. If there were enough requests then it would be worth it for the manufacturers to stock the colors hardware. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #9 March 3, 2003 /me pokes head around/ Royal Blue, huh? Where do I sign up? Seriously, if there was any way to do this, jumpers would buy it. Just look at what people spend on stainless steel hardware. If the nickel component were as strong (and maybe as smooth to prevent wear) as stainless steel, there would not be much of a downside. Can you imagine a yellow rig with blue hardware or black with red hardware? Those would be tight. But then again I love seeing engine compartments that are nothing braided hose with anodized clamps. Oh and my Fat Boy is slowly have all screw heads capped with anodized blue button tops. So I might be biased -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unisyn 0 #10 March 3, 2003 I was thinking more of a purple suade rig with gold hardware. It would be pimpolicous Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billbooth 10 #11 March 3, 2003 OK you guys...cut it out! I have enough different kinds of hardware in stock as it is. "I'm sorry, but your rig is going to be six weeks late...We're flat out of green hardware." Try going to PD and asking for your "A" lines red...your "B" lines yellow...and so on...all with purple bartacks. Send me a tape of the conversation. I like listening to people laugh out loud. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #12 March 3, 2003 Quote I was thinking more of a purple suade rig with gold hardware. It would be pimpolicous Make that purple-tinted nickle-plate hardware to go with that purple suede and you've got a sale!Make it a G3, though... KrisSky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #13 March 3, 2003 bill, I think you are outvoted here But seriously, rig customization is a bit more common than canopy options. Plus...the canopy I just ordered does have color-coded lines. Well...okay, line attachement points....but..... One potential downside....how will it wear? Enough friction with nylon webbing and that hadrware is going to show the base color. -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
samp76 0 #14 March 3, 2003 I sent an e-mail to a plating company, showing him some pictures of the different hardware on a rig and when I find out some info I will post the answer. --Sam--Let go of the NUT!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMFin 0 #15 March 4, 2003 Quote Try going to PD and asking for your "A" lines red...your "B" lines yellow...and so on...all with purple bartacks. Send me a tape of the conversation. I like listening to people laugh out loud. Then mention the magic words $$$$ and listen as the laughter fades away... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TitaniumLegs 8 #16 March 4, 2003 Sure, but I bet you'd both do it for a movie. I can see it now "Austin Powers - Who's Your DZ Dadddddeeeeee!?!?" (>o|-< If you don't believe me, ask me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #17 March 4, 2003 How about once the customer has paid the down he or she receives the hardware their rig will get and its up to them to have it plated or powder coated in a timely manner and in a process that does not effect the hardware's strength, then the customer ships the plated parts back to the manufacturer for assembly of their rig? This is done in the custom rod and bike world all the time. Glen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #18 March 4, 2003 How can you certify that the process does not weaken the material? Your average bike shope does'nt have to have all the paperwork on every item showing how and where it was certified, the batch number and everything else a modern rig has to have tracked.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #19 March 4, 2003 That was my thoughts exactly when I first started thinking of this, get a set of rings for my risers from Para Gear and get them plated, then have a set of risers built for them...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattk 0 #20 March 4, 2003 I noticed Basic Research offers anodized hardware as an option on their Reactor4 BASE container... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 5 #21 March 4, 2003 but it isn't tso'e is it? I seriously doubt that a gear mfr would let you put your own treated hardware on a rig. They would assume the liability... -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #22 March 4, 2003 Almost none of the gear in BASE is tso'd so there is no federal requirement ot track all the parts like there is on a normal rig.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
underdog 0 #23 March 4, 2003 Quote /me pokes head around/ Royal Blue, huh? Where do I sign up? Seriously, if there was any way to do this, jumpers would buy it. Just look at what people spend on stainless steel hardware. If the nickel component were as strong (and maybe as smooth to prevent wear) as stainless steel, there would not be much of a downside. Can you imagine a yellow rig with blue hardware or black with red hardware? Those would be tight. But then again I love seeing engine compartments that are nothing braided hose with anodized clamps. Oh and my Fat Boy is slowly have all screw heads capped with anodized blue button tops. So I might be biased what kind of fat boy do ya got? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,106 #24 March 4, 2003 Quote I did ALOT of research on this, as we were considering offering colored hardware on the new Viper. This is what I found out. True "anodization" is only done on aluminum, the cents. NEGATIVE. Titanium and niobium both can be anodized very nicely. Anodizing is a process in which an oxide layer is built up on the surface of a metal my making the metal the anode (positive electrode) in an electrolytic cell. The oxide layer is often porous so it can be dyed (aluminum), or transparent so that it forms colors by optical interference (titanium). It's use is limited to those metals whose oxides are hard and resistant to wear, like Al and Ti.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #25 March 4, 2003 Hmmm, Titanium hardware would look really groovy though....Only drawback would be the cost....Based on what I used to pay for 'black market' titanium ice screws.....I can't see this taking off. -------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
