Anodized

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A friend brought a snowshoe for repair. A professional welder had declined, said he had a TIG welder, he hadn't used in years. By the time he set it up, it wouldn't be worthwhile. It was a Tubbs Elevation, made near here. The aluminum frame 3/4" OD was very thin walled and very beat up. A section the size of a little fingernail was missing. I slid a bent 1/2" 6061 rod inside 3" long as a backer. The aluminum looked to be unfinished bare aluminum, but showed little sign of oxidation. I acetoned inside and out, and scrubbed the Hell out of it with a wire brush. It wasn't immediately clear what was wrong. It behaved like DC EN. I could see the aluminum sag away, but the grey surface hung on. With persistence, I welded it, but not the pretty, near flush bead I hoped for. I've read you have to blast it away with quick blasts of high amperage. That didn't seem wise. This stuff can't be .030" thick.Once before I experienced this, I now wonder if that material was anodized. What metal do they use in the process?An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.