Removing finish from an anodized part

[XPracer]

How would you do this? I have an aluminum part that is anodized this horrible purple color and I want to strip it down to bare aluminum and polish it. I'm sure it's probably a p.i.t.a. Can I sandblast it off?

 

[RMBC Freeride]

Easy-Off oven cleaner. May take two or more applications, but it will strip it.

 

[wave faster]

Caustic soda will do the trick. wrecked a lot of bmx parts in the 80's with the old draino method.Wear gloves and eye protection as it is nasty stuff.

 

[BombThreat]

mix one bottle of red devil 100% lime (8oz i think) to a gallon of warm water. make sure the part is real clean before putting it in because the lime will eat around the dirt and leave a spot. it should only take 10-15 minutes to rub off with a cloth. when done rinse thorough in water.

 

[#ZERO]

You can strip off the existing anodized layer from any anodized part by placing the part in a caustic solution for an hour or so.

Just mix a few tablespoons of lye and water in a plastic container.

http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html

 

[robertg]

Home Depo purple degreaser or floor cleaner will take it off also. Just soak the part in it at full strength.

 

[DAG]

mix one bottle of red devil 100% lime (8oz i think) to a gallon of warm water. make sure the part is real clean before putting it in because the lime will eat around the dirt and leave a spot. it should only take 10-15 minutes to rub off with a cloth. when done rinse thorough in water.

dip, sit, wipe...


WORKS WONDERS

 

[XPracer]

You guys are friggin' awesome. Thanks for your help. I'm going to go out to the shop and strip it now. :biggthumpup:

 

[Sanford]

Muriatic acid takes it off in seconds.

 

[Speedfreak]

After you remove the coating and polish the part you will have to clear it or something or it will dull and corode prety fast. I polished the pissers on my ski (i was bored one winter) and they looked like crap in a few months.. So I painted them with that new Metallic paint that looks like anodizing. The best thing on the market. Just polish them up and spray and they look anodized

 

[aqua]

i would just use a gritty polish to polish the anodizing off. by the time you get through it I would think that you would have a nice polished surface. You have to polish it anyway right? Or maybe use some fine grit wet dry paper to sand the anodizing off and finish with a polishing compound.

 

[pjsrider]

dip, sit, wipe...


WORKS WONDERS

Can you elaborate on this process? Do you dip it then pull it out and let it sit? Or, do you let the part sit in the solution for a while then pull it out and let it sit then wipe? Does the water have to be warm? I have grill out of a 74 truck that is anodized and I want to polish it. I guess I will need a large tub to do it in.

Jay

 

[djyox]

Wow, there are a lot of ways, I thought you just had to put it in the sun and wait it out!! Cool deal!