Alex Dark Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) Basically i accquired some green cranks, and came to the conclusion that putting these on my bike with red parts would make it resemble a christmas themed steed....a look i didnt really want. So, i decided to do some research on how to strip the anodising off them.Up to 6 applications have to be used, depending on the thickness and quality of the anodisingI pored over several sites to try to ascertain the best method for removal...and ended up on several r/c car forums, they all suggested the use of sodium hydroxide ( oven / drain cleaner ). Sodium hydroxide effectiveloy dissolves the aluminium oxide layer (which is what anodising is composed of) on the surface of the alloy.I went into my local shop and found some Mr. Muscle oven cleaner for the princely sum of £1.89.....sorted....I started off assembling all the bits and pieces i needed: Rubber glovesToothbrushNewspaperOven cleaner Wire woolAutosolRag(s)Lay the item to be stripped on the newspaper. Then spray a light film of mr. musle all over the surface ( make sure to do thisd in a well ventilated area as i found out later on ). You'll have someting that looks a bit like this: Leave the item for around 5 mins, and you'll have something like this: The anodising will have begun to have been removed, leaving a green mess that needs to be brushed off with the toothbrush. Repeat the application, and agitation with the toothbrush intil all the colouring has gone, and there is a dirty black / grey layer over all the raw aluminium. The item now has to be washed to prevent any further corrosion. Once the item is dry, lay it out on some more newspaper and set to it with some fairly coarse wire wool to remove the tarnisheed effect and the last of the anodising. Once most of it has been removed, use some finer wire wool, then buff to a shine with autosol metal polish with a clean fluffy rag.REMEMBER: Use rubber gloves as caustic soda is an irritant and can cause skin damage. If it comes into contact with skin, wash with copious amounts of water. If ingested seek medical advice.Also, use in a well-ventilated area as the fumes can be a bit savage....i started to feel light headed Edited March 11, 2008 by Alex Dark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex.loves.boys Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 classi thought you had to use caustic soda?this is less hasslenice one dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) do u want it wiki-ing? Edited March 11, 2008 by Disasterboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 i thought you had to use caustic soda?Oven cleaner is mild caustic soda You get faster/better results with 'proper' caustic soda but that oven cleaner seems to have done the trick also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) wiki-ing would be nice!Yep,oven cleaner does contain dilute caustic soda making is safer to handle and less aggressive.Oops, forgot to put a safety warning in Edit: done now.... Edited March 11, 2008 by Alex Dark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 wiki? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladd Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Would it work on anything anodised? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Would it work on anything anodised?it should do, but some parts might have hard-to-reach areas which makes it more difficult Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladd Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 it should do, but some parts might have hard-to-reach areas which makes it more difficultEcho Lever blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMack Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Yeah it will work on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 yep, it'll work on anything anodised....i didnt realise there was already a wiki for this....what a waste of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) yep, it'll work on anything anodised....i didnt realise there was already a wiki for this....what a waste of time! only cause I just made it oh, there is another one, only it isn't a step-by-step Edited March 11, 2008 by Disasterboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 ah right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 How did the Echo logo survive the anodising removal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 How did the Echo logo survive the anodising removal?Tis laser etched which roughens the surface up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 yeh, it was fine...i canm still see it fine..ill take a closer pic in a jiffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben John-Hynes Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 For anyone that is wondering.........Don't use your toothbrush,would only produce bad results!Very well done mate, will come in handy Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Booth Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Ha! I did this to my front Hope hub today. Used some oven cleaner too. Worked a treat Polished it back up with Autosol afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookyboy Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Nice workwhy thankyou!If anyone wants stuff de-anodised and cant be bothered...drop me a pm and ill do it for a reasonable price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravemonkey Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 I went into my local shop and found some Mr. Muscle oven cleaner for the princely sum of £1.89.....sorted....Betterware does it cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Dark Posted March 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Betterware does it cheaper hhmm..i trust the brand of mr.muscle you'll have to give me a free sample Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravemonkey Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Free sample included with every order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.