Vic, General Manager at Precision Metal Finishing in Grand Junction, Colorado, explains how anodizing enhances the durability, performance, and finish of the QuikrStuff Quik Rack Mach2 bike rack.
QuikrStuff recently hosted Stoke Night, a fundraiser for COPMOBA, our local trail building and maintenance organization, and Precision Metal Finishing, LLC was one of the vendors present for the event. It was the perfect time to catch up with Vic and have him talk about the anodizing process. Watch the video or read below for a quick overview of the anodizing process and why it makes such a difference in the quality and longevity of the Mach2 bike rack.
What is anodizing?
Anodizing is a process that converts the surface of aluminum into aluminum oxide. In simple terms, it creates a microscopic porous structure on the aluminum—almost like a honeycomb or bee’s nest. During the process, about 40% of the coating penetrates into the aluminum while roughly 60% builds up on the surface.
For the Quik Rack Mach2, we use a Type II anodize, which is the most common colored anodizing process people are familiar with. The coating is typically about one-thousandth of an inch thick. Once that porous layer is created, we introduce dye into the pores to achieve the final color.
After dyeing, those pores have to be sealed. We use a high-temperature nickel acetate seal, which closes the pores and locks in the finish.
The full anodizing process moves the parts through roughly 20 different tanks, including rinse and process tanks. The steps include cleaning, etching, deoxidizing, anodizing, dyeing, and sealing. That entire sequence is what creates the durable, corrosion-resistant finish you see on the finished product.
From Precision Metal Finishing’s website:
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts an aluminum surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion resistant, anodic finish.
In addition to being able to add a dye or some color to the metal, what else is the purpose of anodizing parts on the QuikrStuff rack?
In addition to adding color, anodizing serves several important functions on the QuikrStuff Mach2 bike rack. One benefit is part identification. Different colors can help customers quickly recognize specific components—for example, a gold lever might indicate the spool adjustment, while a red lever identifies the arm adjustment. It makes the rack more intuitive and easier to use.
Anodizing also improves the overall appearance of the rack while adding exceptional durability. Aluminum oxide creates an extremely hard surface—often described as second only to diamond in hardness—which helps the rack resist wear, corrosion, and everyday exposure to the elements. That durability is a big reason why anodizing is such an important part of making the Mach2 long-lasting and corrosion-resistant.
The coloring process itself is also unique. Unlike other finishing methods, such as zinc plating where color is applied over the surface, anodizing works by creating microscopic pores in the aluminum oxide layer. Dye penetrates into those open pores before they are sealed. Once the desired color is achieved, the pores are closed using a sealing process, which locks in the color and protects the finish for long-term durability.
Where are you located? And how long does it take QuikrStuff to get parts to you, get all these processes done, and then get the parts back?
Precision Metal Finishing is located in beautiful Grand Junction, right next door to QuikrStuff’s facility, which makes the partnership especially convenient. Because of that close proximity, QuikrStuff parts typically move through the entire anodizing process and back again in just two to three days.
The company has been operating in Grand Junction for more than 27 years and is NADCAP certified, a nationally recognized aerospace and defense accreditation for quality systems and chemical processing. That certification allows Precision Metal Finishing to perform aerospace work for major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.
Having QuikrStuff located right next door has been a major advantage for both companies. It simplifies communication, pickups, deliveries, and overall coordination, helping maintain fast turnaround times and a strong working relationship.
Precision Metal Finishing, LLC plays a major role in helping QuikrStuff keep production moving efficiently and ensuring we have the parts we need to build and ship racks to customers within just a day or two of ordering. Their quality, consistency, and fast turnaround times make them an outstanding partner, and we truly appreciate the relationship and support they provide.
