How to strip anodizing from aluminum

[dave_k]

i made a how to cause i had a lot of feed back on tcu of how i did this to my rims, so i did it to my pedals to show people the steps. for my wheels i just sprayed it on the rims and did the same steps as below, i then taped aroud every spoke nipple and taped the rim off and painted the hubs and spokes cause the easy off will strip the paint/powdercoat from the spokes and didnt want to take my wheels apart
wheels before
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/008.jpg
just a pic of my bike with the wheels done
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/noww001.jpg
heres the how to
things you need-easy off oven cleaner(do not use other brands they suck)green scrub pad, steel wool, rubber gloves, scrub brush, and your part you want to raw.


step one-spary on oven cleaner, allow it to soak for a good ten to fifteen minutes
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi001.jpg
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi002.jpg
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi004.jpg
step two-rinse part and lightly scrub to see results, if needed redo step one, once happy with the anodizing removed it should look like the pedal on the left
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi005.jpg
step three-use green pads and scrub brush to get as much oxidization off your part then use steel wool to get a uniform look, once completed it will look like pedal on right
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi006.jpg
finished, look really shinny cause of the flash from the camera
http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k479/bmxn605/yeahboi007.jpg

[Big Ben]

nice little guide, though personally i think those rubens looked better orange haha

[ypkx1897]

nice!

[dave_k]

nice little guide, though personally i think those rubens looked better orange haha

at one time they did when i had all orange fly stuff but got sick of em so i changed em up and i dig em alot
thanks though bro

[Narcoleptic Insomniac]

how how do those rims compare to chrome if you decide to ride brakes?

[dave_k]

how how do those rims compare to chrome if you decide to ride brakes?

not sure, i haven't ran brakes for a bit over two years, i'm assuming it would be better then the slippery anodizing though

[dave_k]

also if anybody is wanting to do this make sure that the easy off is HEAVY DUTY

[couch]

Change the title to "How to remove anodize guide w/photos."

Then have a mod move it here!
http://www.bikeguide.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=44

Nice work.

[Bunky]

I can't believe you didn't remove the bearings before-hand... Otherwise, a cool little guide.

[dave_k]

I can't believe you didn't remove the bearings before-hand... Otherwise, a cool little guide.

ive had the pedals for over two years and work in a shop so i didnt care if it messed up the bearings or not, i can get new ones for next to nothing and they are still fine, and thanks aswell

[AngryKidJoe]

HowTo's are always appreciated. Thanks Dave K.

[Peter Griffin]

thanks! i think im going to do this to my fly rims but im still debating

[dave_k]

i added a pic of what my wheel looked like before i rawed them out

[couch]

I can't believe you didn't remove the bearings before-hand... Otherwise, a cool little guide.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Ice Cube]

I was thinking the same thing.

They're Rubens, so the bearings are probably already fucked and it won't make a difference.

Nice guide, I just did a bunch of my parts tonight. I've always meant to strip some Anno, but never got around to it. Its neat.

[dave_k]

They're Rubens, so the bearings are probably already fucked and it won't make a difference.

Nice guide, I just did a bunch of my parts tonight. I've always meant to strip some Anno, but never got around to it. Its neat.

ive had these for over two years and still run perfect, i also have the new eclat alum pedals and they are no where near as nice as rubens

[Ice Cube]

Mine were toasted within months. I still have a spare set of bearings for them here. Don't know when I'll ever need them.

[CHROME_RIMS_YO]

does anyone know if this weakens the aluminum at all? i want to take the black anodizing off of my tree og sprocket.

+rep for good answerz

[super_chief]

it does not weaken the aluminum. it takes an insignificant amount of material off (minute at best), and removes the corrosive protection (anodizing)

basically the same as rawing the powdercoat off the frame. leaving exposed alloy.

[Eject]

it does not weaken the aluminum. it takes an insignificant amount of material off (minute at best), and removes the corrosive protection (anodizing)

basically the same as rawing the powdercoat off the frame. leaving exposed alloy.

On that note, I just have to let you all know that if you do use something stronger than oven cleaner, like industrial caustic soda, then you should be concerned.

I worked at a CD/DVD manufacturing plant and we used that stuff to clean non alloyed alu from copper masks. (Don't ask how it got onto the masks. When making discs, it just gets there. Check Google (http://www.google.com.au/search?q=sputtering&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) or Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputtering) for "sputtering" if you wish.)

Anyway that stuff dissolved it completely in a matter of hours. But that's pretty much pure aluminium, will probably not do the same to alloyed aluminium. I'm guessing it could fuck up your part pretty bad still, since I assume it'll eat away at at the aluminium part of the alloy.

[Aesop Rock]

Recently tried this on some anodized rims I had and it didn't do anything. Used Easy Off heavy duty and left it on for 15-30 minutes and no results. Any ideas here?

[couch]

What rims? Hard anodize penetrates into the material. If they are hard anodized, then you will need to remove material as well.

[super_chief]

I heard somewhere that Eazy Off ain't what it used to be somewhere. Lost one of the key ingredients due to it being too strong/poisonous or whatever. Don't hold me to it though, just one of those IIRC..

[Tubes6al4v]

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hard-anodizing.htm

[pitobread]

I heard somewhere that Eazy Off ain't what it used to be somewhere. Lost one of the key ingredients due to it being too strong/poisonous or whatever. Don't hold me to it though, just one of those IIRC..

Sodium Hydroxide, although I think it's still an ingredient. You can also use draino, it has the same chemical. Its Basically a mild Lye. You can buy straight Lye and get the same effect. And it is cheap to boot. I use it when I do anodizing to clean the part before anodizing. 3-4 heaping tablespoons of lye to 1-2 liters of water.. It will even remove hard anodizing (technically it's eating the hard ano layer of aluminum off).

You have to be very careful though. Depending on the ratio you mix approximately 10 minutes or so is enough time to start seriously messing up your fit and tolerances of your part. Threaded holes will get sloppy and bearing seats will get loose. Anything you don't want to come in contact with the Lye should get a coating of rubber cement(IE bearing seats)

**** USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN USING LYE, IT IS VERY STRONG AND CAN GIVE YOU VERY NASTY BURNS. USE IN A ADEQUATELY VENTILATED AREA. ALWAYS ADD LYE TO WATER, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. IF YOU DO SPILL IT ON YOURSELF RINSE THE AREA WITH VINEGAR TO NEUTRALIZE IT AND WASH IT WITH SOAP AND WATER****

Have fun!