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Anodizing remover

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Would like to know the source and name of best available aluminum anodizing remover. I need to strip some automotive trim, and can no longer get stripper from the same source. They no longer carry it and don't remember what it was called.

Phil DeSanto
Terre Haute, Ind.

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You can remove anodize from aluminum without etching the base aluminum metal with the following solution:

22-28%/weight Sulfuric Acid (as Technical Grade, S.G.=1.84)
2-4%/wt Sodium Bichromate
Makeup - Deionized Water
Operate the above solution at 140 - 160 F.

Greg Haataja
helicopters - Fort Worth, Texas

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Phil,

Typical remover of anodic coatings on aluminum alloys is 20 g/L chromic acid + 35 ml/L phosphoric acid (85%) in deionized water at 90-100 C, which is able to completely remove the anodic coatings without damaging the substrate aluminum alloys. Immersion time depends on the coating thickness.

Ling

Ling Hao
- Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I was told that sprayon oven cleaner will remove the anodizing from aluminum.

Barry Gallas

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By someone who didn't like you, Barry?
As far as I know, most oven cleaners are sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and will attack the base aluminum just as readily as the anodized surface. It's not impossible to remove the anodized coating with oven cleaner if you have significant expertise, but an amateur applying it may destroy the part.

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey