Summarize:

Once your power source is on, slowly turn it up to reach your ideal amperage. A good rule of thumb is to use 12 amps per square foot of material. (12 amps per every 0.09 square meters of material). Increasing the power too fast or using too much can burn your aluminum wires. You will see little oxidation bubbles start to form on the surface of the anode. The anode will also start to change color, turning brown, then yellow. If you don’t see bubbles forming within about 30 seconds of starting your power supply, turn your power supply off and check your connections. This is usually an indicator that your power supply wasn’t properly connected. If you plan on dying your part, prepare the dye so that it is hot and ready when your anode comes out of the bath. Different dyes will have different requirements, so prepare your dye as directed on the product packaging.  Heating the dye will help increase the amount of pigment your part picks up. However, the dye should not be heated to a temperature over 122 °F (50 °C). Dye can be damaging to pots, so use an old one that you no longer use for food. Once your anode is done in the bath, turn off your power supply before attempting to retrieve it. Remove your aluminum carefully and rinse it with distilled water.  Work quickly if you plan on dying your part. Be sure to wear protective gloves when retrieving and rinsing your part. Let the part sit in the dye for 15 minutes. If you are only dying part of your anode (such as the bow of a key), wrap your aluminum wire around the part you don’t want to dye. Use this as a handle to dip your anode into the dye. If you do not plan on dying your aluminum part, skip straight to boiling the part in distilled water for 30 minutes. You should have enough water to fully submerge your anode. Once your anode is done in the dye bath, remove it and place it in the boiling water for 30 minutes. Set your newly dyed aluminum on a clean towel or rag and allow it to cool completely before handling. Once cooled, the surface should be sealed.
Turn on your power source. Keep the power supply constant for 45 minutes. Mix your dye during the anodizing process. Turn off the power supply after 45 minutes. Place the aluminum part in the warm dye bath. Boil distilled water on a hot plate. Remove the hot metal carefully and allow it to dry.