+Mushroom Doom Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 Giving your TB tags a "new look"... I am quite proficient in the art of aluminum anodizing. This is the process by which a layer of crystaline aluminum oxide is "grown" on the surface of the metal by electrolysis. This would give your TB tag a corrosion resistant finish which can be dyed to almost any color imaginable! I developed my process while employed doing R&D for a company that needed their aluminum RF welding dies to last longer & have better dielectric properties. As applied to TB tags, this process can make your TB tag really stand out by giving it a custom colored finish that will not wear off unless it's very abused. Since aluminum is a soft metal, nothing will save it if it's been mistreated... Caribiners are often given this "type II" anodized finished to improve their resistance to the elements & color code them for load rating or ID purposes. Good quality MAGLITE flashlights usually have an anodized finish as well. The only drawback to doing this process would be that all of the black pigment in the text area of the tag would be removed, leaving you with only the depressions where the text & designs were stamped in. IMO the tags would still be readable & unless someone can think of a reason why this would ruin the TB I would be glad to put my skills to good use customizing TB tags for those who are interested... Shoot me an email & tell me your thoughts on this. Matrix_Azaleph@hotmail.com When I get a TB tag of my own or get permission from a tag owner to do this to theirs (free of charge for the "experiment" of course) I will post the results. Thanks! Mushroom Doom N48 26.000 W 123 29.700 (Victoria B.C. Canada) Quote Link to comment
+welch Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 interesting idea. If you want some testing materials I could send you a couple of the 'copy' tags to do testing on. That way you can try it, and then beat it with a hammer (or whatever since I wouldn't need them back) to see how well it really works. Quote Link to comment
+Eric K Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 Post some pictures once you get some done. Sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 From fiddling with my tags, I think the logo and info are just painted on, with a protective coating over the top. You'll first have to remove that, I should think, which will biff everything but the tag number, which is stamped. Still perfectly functional, of course. Cool, even. But it'll be a blank tag with a number. Quote Link to comment
+KC0GRN Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 interesting idea, never thought of it... I'd be interested in getting a couple tags done if the experiment turns out well, especially my Backpack's tag. Would like to get that in an orange color. Quote Link to comment
+Mushroom Doom Posted May 8, 2005 Author Share Posted May 8, 2005 Welch is sending me two of his copy tags so when I get them I will post before & after pics of how they look. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Should be cool! After closer inspection of a TB tag currently in my possesion, I have determined that there is indeed a shallow inlay where the ink is deposited on the tag. This makes some sense because the whole tag could be inked then resurfaced, leaving the ink in the recessed areas only. Take a tag that you have & rub you finger nail along an area where the text is printed & you will see what I mean. Well, all will be revealed when I get my hands on one I can test anyway. We'll just have to wait & see... Could be the next big craze with TB tags??? Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 After closer inspection of a TB tag currently in my possesion, I have determined that there is indeed a shallow inlay where the ink is deposited on the tag. This makes some sense because the whole tag could be inked then resurfaced, leaving the ink in the recessed areas only. Take a tag that you have & rub you finger nail along an area where the text is printed & you will see what I mean. Hm. You're right. I just took acetone to a copy tag, and there is a shallow impression left when the ink comes off. Quote Link to comment
+Mushroom Doom Posted May 11, 2005 Author Share Posted May 11, 2005 I'm off to the British Columbia Interior to visit familly, do some caching & maybe pick some morel mushrooms. I'll be back on Tuesday May 16th. Hopefully there will be a couple TB tags waiting for me when I get back so I can find out how they look after being anodized. Can't wait! Quote Link to comment
+KC0GRN Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Looking forward to seeing the results when you get them. I wonder how the black text could get painted back in? My thought on mine is that I have a color scheme on my backpack (orange and black) and if I got the tag anodized, it'd be best to have the black text back on it. Since it's all recessed maybe it'll be a simple process. Quote Link to comment
NedFunnell Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 How about working in bulk? There's about 55, 7/8x2". Quote Link to comment
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