removing ano

[ozboater]

is there any simple way to remove anodization from alum ??? my hardware (stock sv) is blue and since i m on my 2nd rebuilt / reglass / repaint / spektrum radio install i d like to remove the finish...

i think a buddie of mine (who has been into rc cars forever) mentioned oven cleaner... i could be wrong but does that sound like the go ?? i imagine the stuff is pretty voilatile so perhaps it d work well... i m not sure.... what methods have you people used ??

cheers

[Doug Smock]

If you have a buddy in the heating and air business, ask him if he has any sodiumhydroxide. AKA Non acid condenser coil cleaner.

Doug

[goldendesign04]

two ways

1.you could use a buffing pad (wool stitched from lowes/homedepot) attached to a bench grinder to polish is off, make sure to sharpen an square all edges again simple easy an blinging!

2. Oven cleaner will work but..... only let it sit for about 15min then rinse, spray-sit 15 min then rinse, repeat as needed. This may take awhile. just dont let it sit for too long or it will stat to pit the aluminium an then youll need to sand an polish anyways.

personally (1) is easiest. Polishing is easy, a wool polishing pad (4" for angle grinder or 6" for bench grinder) from a hardware store an also look for their in store polish sticks, ba-da bing your coating is gone an its really shiney! but now youve rounded the edges so a small needle file will sharpen up the edges an make it all square an your done.

Simple!

-Wayne

[ozboater]

awesome... thanks guys... hey doug, luckily i do have a mate here in HVAC... i ll have to give him a call... whats the process with the sodiumhydroxide ?? how long do i leave it before rinsing etc ?? thanks again for ya help, this is something foriegn to me... stoked with the way the boat is going, the glassing came out great... waiting to shoot the paint when she dries... can t wait for the spektrum radio to arrive from the LHS...

[Doug Smock]

awesome... thanks guys... hey doug, luckily i do have a mate here in HVAC... i ll have to give him a call... whats the process with the sodiumhydroxide ?? how long do i leave it before rinsing etc ?? thanks again for ya help, this is something foriegn to me... stoked with the way the boat is going, the glassing came out great... waiting to shoot the paint when she dries... can t wait for the spektrum radio to arrive from the LHS...

Leave it on for just a minute or so then rinse. You may heve to do it twice, then rinse and polish. Ask him if he has any FNC-1 by Ace chemical. Wear gloves and eye protection, it can cause burns.

Doug

[ozboater]

thanks again doug... is the fnc-1 a type of sodiumhydroxide or is it another chemical i ll want to use alongside the sodiumhydroxide ??

wish this hull would hurry up and dry, i wanna shoot some banner red... no rush i guess since the radio won t be here till 'early april'

[Doug Smock]

thanks again doug... is the fnc-1 a type of sodiumhydroxide or is it another chemical i ll want to use alongside the sodiumhydroxide ??

wish this hull would hurry up and dry, i wanna shoot some banner red... no rush i guess since the radio won t be here till 'early april'

FNC (foam and clean) is sodiumhydroxide by ACE Chemical Co.

Doug

[scooterP]

I didn't think that sodium hydroxide was good for aluminum... Many years ago I worked in a business that cleaned Morrison's Cafeterias kitchens. We always covered up anything that was aluminum because the sodium hydroxide that we sprayed would turn it black. Stainless was immune.
I have also heard of folks putting anodized parts in heated antifreeze to remove the anodizing.

[sailr]

hmmmm, heated antifreeze? That's a new one. Interesting. Tell us more.

[sundog]

I used drain cleaner to remove the blue color from a strut recently - was a snap! Dip it for 15 seconds (more or less) and it'll take it right off. No sanding, scratching, wiping. Just rinse with water and you're done. Got the idea here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G1AE-Ax8Wk