OK I've been trying different solvents to take the color out of ano with no results at all. So has anyone else come up with anything besides sandpaper?

thanks
Charlie

Easy Off Oven Cleaner is my go-to deanodizer.

+1 to Easy-Off oven cleaner. Wear gloves & work outside or in a well-ventilated area. Don’t leave it on too long (~20 minutes, iirc, depending on how thick the anodizing is). There may be a dark film when you are finished. Then rinse off the part, wet sand with fine grip sandpaper, and polish.

Agreed. Good gloves as that stuff is high power.

"ano"??? Are you trying to disguise the object of your question or just trying to be cool?

If you want to make a mess, use Easy-Off.

If you want to git 'er done right, get some of this: Jestco Anodizing Remover

An example, with photos, of it in use: Stripping Anodizing

DD

Thanks for that link, Jestco order is in .

: Mike

Fascinating question ! The only reply that springs to mind is why you would pose such a pointless and perhaps stoopid question?

Only exactly what I hoped for ! ! Many thanks, DD

Charlie

I'd prefer a strong product I know what's in it, which is why I use NaOH.

I have successfully used 5% w/v NaOH (AKA lye or caustic soda). That's 5g in 100mL water, scaled up or down as you like. Dip the part for 10s to a few minutes, it will bubble like mad once the ano has come off. You can also rub with paper towel to see if the ano has come off. Once it has, take the part out. It'll turn black but this "smut" as they call it is easily wiped off with a rag and hot water or light polish. Use Mothers mag and aluminum polish (available at walmart) after. It will polish up nicely, in my experience. You MUST take the part out when the ano is gone. The NaOH will eat the aluminum just as well as it eats the ano. It is possible to wax or grease up areas you don't want to get de-anodized as well, but this doesn't work for long periods.

It works well on all colors of ano and grades of alu that I have tried. Double- or triple-glove and wear old crummy clothes and eye protection, but it won't hurt you to get some on your skin if you immediately wash it off. In your eyes is really bad and I do not speak from experience. It's fine in plastic or glass containers and can be neutralized with vinegar or muriatic acid (hcl) when you're done (turns into saltwater by single replacement).

I work in a lab, so I don't like to mess around with commercial formulae. Rather make the good stuff myself. You can get NaOH easily online or in some hardware stores. If you do this, BE CAREFUL.