Be sure that specialty items, such as curved arches, assemblies, or formed metal, are packaged soundly. Try to get all your metal from the same lot to reduce color variation caused by the aluminum's metallurgical composition. Die-castings are difficult to anodize because of the porous nature of the surface, even if the alloy is anodizing quality. Because anodizing is only as good as the metal you use, it will not hide scratches or water stains. Assemblies must have drainage holes to prevent solution entrapment.
Top holes admit air, while bottom holes drain.
Anodizing chemicals can leak through even the tightest weld joints. Assemblies must not include non-aluminum materials. Be sure toast the correct alloy welding rod-we recommend 5356. The worst choice is 4043 since it will turn a smutty black.