Article: The tub should also be placed away from things that could be harmed during this process. Set it on a piece of plywood and/or a thick drop cloth in case of spills. A garage with an open door or a shed with all doors and windows open is usually a good location. For best results, do this when the indoor temperature is between 70 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 22 degrees Celsius). Set it on a non-flammable material, like concrete. Use a multimeter, available from most auto supplies stores, to make sure your battery is working consistently. You will need to connect the positive wire from your battery charger or rectifier to a wire that will be strung to your aluminum. You will need to connect your negative wire from your battery charger to an aluminum wire connected to 2 lead cathodes. 12-gauge aluminum wire works well for this use. Wrap it or connect it to the part in an inconspicuous area. If your anodizing a key, for example, you may wrap the wire around the join between the blade and the bow. The area of the part that connects to the wire will not anodize. Make sure it is very tightly wrapped for a more consistent charge. The wood should be longer than your plastic tub. This will give you leverage to lift it out when you are done. Make sure you have extra wire extending toward your power supply after you wrap it. Test the wooden handle to make sure your aluminum part will be fully submerged in the acid mix, but not touching the base of your plastic tub. String aluminum wire between the cathodes and connect them together on your small wood plank. You will attach the negatively charged power supply to this wire. Make sure the wire connecting the anode does not touch the lead cathodes. The amount you use will depend upon the size of the metal part you want to anodize. You should have enough to completely submerge your anode. Be very careful not to spill as you mix. Put on a mask or respirator before you start working with acid. Turn on a fan to ventilate the area. Always pour the water in before the acid. If you spill any acid, cover it quickly with baking soda. The wire that leads from your anode should connect to the positive terminal on your power supply. The wire that leads from the lead cathodes should connect to the negative terminal of your power supply. Before you turn on your power supply, check the area around your plastic tub to make sure there aren't any spills. You should also double-check to ensure the power is safely connected and your skin is completely covered.
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Place your plastic tub in a well-ventilated area. Set up your power supply. Tie one end of the long aluminum wire to your anode. Wrap the middle of the wire around a thin piece of wood. Set a lead cathode on each side of your tank. Make a 1:1 mixture of distilled water and battery acid in your plastic tub. Connect your aluminum wires to your power supply.