Letter 3674

Removing anodizing 

Thu -

I am restoring a 1966 Pontiac G T O . It has several strips of aluminum trim that has become "cloudy" . I have used abrasive and polishing compounds to try to remove the anodizing . I have had fair results in getting it back to a shine . I realize after removing the anodizing I will have to polish forever . Is there a chemical an amateur can use to remove the anodizing and then repolish ? The other method took 1&1/2 hours to remove the anodizing and reshine a 18 " x 1 " strip. I searched your faq's with no results.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Steve Harper - Columbia , S.C.

Back in the good ole days, we used to use Easy Off Oven Cleaner to remove the anodizing from aluminum. Then, polish it FOREVER with Mother's Aluminum Polish [link is to product info at Amazon]. It will look as bright as chrome, but won't last unless you powdercoat it with clear resin.

Patrick Michael
- Las Vegas, Nevada

I'm a retired ME with a metal finishing background, and as you'll find below, also have way too much time on my hands.

I presume the trim is off the car. To clean as well as strip the anodic coating at the same time, you might try a product by Alcoa that's simply called "Alcoa Cleaner." The stuff was intended for bare aluminum only because every spec of the anodic coating will go south during the cleaning process. Of course, this is what you want if the intent is to remove the anodic coating so you can follow up by polishing/buffing to a mirror luster.

I can't get into the endless details of polishing/buffing aluminum alloys to a mirror luster without writing a book.

In addition to polishing/buffing, you have to seal the part if you don't want to constantly mess with hand waxing to keep the surface sealed or polish frequently to remove oxidation. Regardless of any product claim, Carnauba-based waxes of any brand last about as long as a $20-dollar bill on a busy sidewalk.

There are only two sealants out there by reputable companies that I know for sure actually do what the manufacturer states. One is the "Alcoa Sealer," the other being "Boeshield T-9." However, for your specific application, I recommend the "Boeshield T-9." It was developed by Boeing (the aircraft folks) to a military specification defining a material for inhibiting both oxidation from aluminum surfaces as well as preventing ferrous alloys from rusting. It is now licensed to a 3rd party, but has the same original formulation.

The reason I'm recommending the Boeshield T-9 is because the Alcoa Sealant will slightly degrade a mirror luster because it imparts a "micro-oxidation" due to the isopropenol/inorganic acid content.

However, the Boeshield T-9 seals in an entirely different way and reminds you of the new "wet-look" you get when spraying WD-40 on something. It's a spray on, wipe off product, but differs in that it mysteriously seals and retains the "wet look" for 6-9 months, depending on inland vs coastal use. To reapply takes seconds to spray and wipe off.

Hope this helps.

Greybeard

Lynn M. Perry, Sr.
- Plano, TX, USA

Lynn,

I bought some of the alcoa cleaner to use to strip anondizing on the swingarm of my '92 GSXR 1100. In the past I had sanded it off, what a PITA that is. I got the alcoa cleaner sprayed it on and it did not even put a mark in the anondizing on this swingarm??? In fact I did it twice. What gives? On the bottle it says not to use on anondizing so I know I got the right stuff. Is there something special you need to do besides spray it on and wait 10 minutes to strip anondizing?

Thanks,

Cam Simpson
- Rochester, NY

I am looking for a product, a cleaner of sorts to restore the new look of an older motorcycle engine.

Robert M. Dodd
Hobbyist - South Lyon, Michigan, USA

What did you come with for the motorcycle engine. I am in the exact same boat and can not take the entire motor appart to glass bead the metal, which is how I made it look new when I bought it.

Sandor Scher
- Miami, FL United States

Stripping anodized aluminum is fast and easy. You need sodium hydroxide to do it. It is available commercially at chemical supply places. You can use Crystal drano (29% sodium hydroxide). Use you hot water and about 1/2 cup to a gallon. Let part sit for a few minutes, part will start to bubble. That is when the anodized coating if off and now your going into the aluminum. Use gloves and well ventilated area!! Wash part immediately in cold water. Now to the restoration part. You can sand and polish at will, that takes a good buffer, compound and know how. Which I will not go into now. I restore parts professionally, including the reanodized process. I recommend anodizing the part. I put the hard protective coating back on the part for years of trouble free cleaning.

Dave Kosmann
- Caldwell, ID, US

Fast and easy, maybe. Dangerous, absolutely. Just one more reminder that every year trained professionals wearing protective gear are seriously injured when something goes wrong making up solutions of sodium hydroxide. It has an enormous "heat of solution" / "heat of dilution". This means when sodium hydroxide is mixed with water, it heats up the water. Not a big problem if a small amount is well mixed into a large amount of cold water. But if a small amount of water mixes with a large amount of sodium hydroxide (which can happen even in a large tank with poor mixing), that small amount of water is instantaneously turned into steam and erupts the contents of the tank all over the operator.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

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