Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hi guys. I've been reading up on anodizing brake levers and brake calipers and so I decided to get and old brake set and give it a try. I had a word first with a local guy that does anodizing and he told me that only billet materials can be anodized. He suggested that they do what they call a "gun coat" since the brake levers and calipers I had was a aluminum cast and that it won't look nice when anodized. So they did an orange gun coat with a clear coat on top of that and it came out very nicely!
Sepia Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Very good job I must say. Now we know what the calipers and levers look like inside! Will the o rings still work against this coating?
Pure Savage Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hi guys. I've been reading up on anodizing brake levers and brake calipers and so I decided to get and old brake set and give it a try. I had a word first with a local guy that does anodizing and he told me that only billet materials can be anodized. He suggested that they do what they call a "gun coat" since the brake levers and calipers I had was a aluminum cast and that it won't look nice when anodized. So they did an orange gun coat with a clear coat on top of that and it came out very nicely! Probably the most informative first post ever! Report back on performance and maybe a cost and time it took would be cool.
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 Yes, I haven't had any problems so far. As the guy explained to me the process involves "taking away" a thin layer of the aluminum and "replacing" it with the "gun coat". The finish is very smooth and everything still fits like it use to. I only applied another thin layer of clear coat on the outside of the levers and the calipers to give that extra shine.
EmptyB Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hi guys. I've been reading up on anodizing brake levers and brake calipers and so I decided to get and old brake set and give it a try. I had a word first with a local guy that does anodizing and he told me that only billet materials can be anodized. He suggested that they do what they call a "gun coat" since the brake levers and calipers I had was a aluminum cast and that it won't look nice when anodized. So they did an orange gun coat with a clear coat on top of that and it came out very nicely! Great job, looks awesome
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 It took me about an hour to disassemble the brakes and give everything a good clean with surgical spirits. The anodizing/gun coat process took two days and it cost me R520.00 rand for the two levers, two master cylinder housings and four caliper pieces.
patches Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Hope pistons and master cylinder assemblies are machined out of solid billet. Some models are available already anodised in certain colours, but some enthusiast take it a little further. Here are some varieties (stock and after market) http://www.purebike.fr/article_media/h-5558-6098.jpg http://www.mag-russia.ru/f/product/h-6353-7204.jpg http://blistergearreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HopeTechEvoM4Stock2.jpg Stock Standard http://enduro-mtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Maloja-1889-780x520.jpg http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o465/Stevo_210/m4d.jpg
CdT85 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Yes, I haven't had any problems so far. As the guy explained to me the process involves "taking away" a thin layer of the aluminum and "replacing" it with the "gun coat". The finish is very smooth and everything still fits like it use to. I only applied another thin layer of clear coat on the outside of the levers and the calipers to give that extra shine. Is it the the "gun coat" you mention here maybe ballistic coat? if so...then I need to go speak to my gunsmith..
patches Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 I wonder how it holds up against brakes that run DOT fluid in stead of mineral oil?
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 That looks really awesome! I love Hope brakes, just too expensive for me. My next project will be a set of Hayes Stroker brakes as they are not aluminum cast.
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 Is it the the "gun coat" you mention here maybe ballistic coat? if so...then I need to go speak to my gunsmith.. Lol, I don't think so. They do the same thing with, for example, with KTM brake calipers.
patches Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 That looks really awesome! I love Hope brakes, just too expensive for me. My next project will be a set of Hayes Stroker brakes as they are not aluminum cast. Oh awesome! Those should turn out similar to Formula R1 brakes then... http://evansblog01.ominor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_0173-e13033257516531.jpg As mentioned in another thread I recently anodised my whole frame. It turned out pretty good, especially on the machined parts.
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 I wonder how it holds up against brakes that run DOT fluid in stead of mineral oil?I'm not sure, but I will find out.
deanbean Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Is it the the "gun coat" you mention here maybe ballistic coat? if so...then I need to go speak to my gunsmith.. That would be interesting, report back please
Red Ant Posted October 15, 2015 Author Posted October 15, 2015 Oh awesome! Those should turn out similar to Formula R1 brakes then... http://evansblog01.ominor.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_0173-e13033257516531.jpg As mentioned in another thread I recently anodised my whole frame. It turned out pretty good, especially on the machined parts. That looks stunning! The guy also mentioned that high end brakes like Formula and Hope anodize very well.
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