Lens Restoration: re-applying Black anodizing

[carlprad]

Hello

Is it possible to re-apply the "black" anodized layer to old lenses that have worn away?

Some of my old LEICA lenses carry invaluable sentimental value and I am very interested in finding out if I can have them restored.

They have had much of their "black" anodized coating worn away, showing the metal below.

i would really appreciate anyone's help in finding a repair person that might be able to restore my lenses.

 

[Vickko]

Anodization of aluminum is a wickedly hard process to do, and getting the colours right is even trickier. Try looking at wikipedia to see a summary of it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing

To do a lens, you'd have to disassemble the lens completely to get the parts that you want to anodize, and then process the parts.

Some of the parts might even have been machined after anodization, for tolerance and precision fitting. If these parts are anodized again, they might not be able to be assembled again to the correct tolerances.

You may ask Don Goldberg (www.dagcamera.com) to start

 

[JRminox]

Anodization restoration on older lens

Anodization restoration on older lens

Anodizing aluminum is actually an easy process practiced by hundreds of shops around the US. Color is obtained from a dye filling the microscopic pores of the aluminum oxide. The problems are more in the removal of the old worn out uneven anodization (aluminum oxide) and the disassembly and precise reassembly of the lens. Not a trivial job. If the wear of the oxide coating is minimal, re-dying may be possible without going through the re-anodization process.