By all means, I've no worries pointing people in the right direction where I can. Nothing worse than starting out with trial & error
Grade 1 & 2 will anodise,but you will find the colours are nice and vivid in the lower end of the voltage spectrum (unfortunately this end shows off finger prints brilliantly.) and are dull in the higher voltages. Grade 5 will give vivid colours in the top end, while being less prone to oily marks.
Give it a go ;) Only 15% sulphuric acid in the anodising tank. pick up 2 litres of battery acid and dilute 50% with distilled water. that will give you a 4 litre anodising bath in a 5L bucket which is plenty for anodising pens. some lead flashing curved around the inside of the bucket to act as the cathodes, and a suitable power supply.
My first pen was a slim line twist pen and it was bent. shaped like a banana, most probably over turned, and no doubt the wrong colour components to compliment the wooden blank i used. Id encourage you to try etching as its really simple and gives great results.. a vinyl sticker, and some caustic soda.
