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I did some checking with the local plating shops and was told that there
are 2 basic types of aluminum anodizing, type I and type II Mike Reinath
San Jose, CA
Hi Mike,
It helps me to avoid using the terminology type I and type II. I recommend
using the nick names "hard anodizing" or "soft anodizing" every one
understands it, and it never leads to confusion by mixing them up. Soft
anodizing is the cosmetic stuff, and rubs right off. Yes, soft anodizing
will give you more color choices, but the stuff is just decorative. Soft
anodizing will fade in a couple years just from handling. I wouldn't even
use it for nonstructural parts inside the cockpit. Hard Anodizing will
withstand a lot more abrasion, and will protect your aluminum against salt
water corrosion. My favorite Anodizer in our San Jose CA area is MS Anodize
354 Umburger unit 11. Talk to Steve or John (408) 224-0370. They have a lot
of color choices in hard anodizing. If you give them some extra scrap
pieces of your aluminum, they can run a test batch and better match the
color shade that you want. There is also Electroless Nickel in Santa Clara
(408) 496-0740. Despite their name, they also do anodizing. However they
kind of got too big over the years. They are usually a bit more expensive,
have a longer turnaround, and won't give your project much personal
attention.
Most people like the looks of the lighter shiny silvery shades of all the
colors. However, take into consideration that the color shade of the
anodizing darkens with the thickness of the aluminum oxide buildup. So, for
purposes of durability, it is usually more desirable to have your color of
choice come out on the slightly uglier darker side.

Regards,
Ed
Watsonville CA.