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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Anodizing remover

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.
1999

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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
1999

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1999

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 [on eBay or Amazon] will remove the anodizing from aluminum.

Barry Gallas
1999

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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 [affil links] ) and will attack the base aluminum just as readily as the anodized surface. It's not impossible to remove anodized coatings with oven cleaner if you have significant expertise, but an amateur applying it might destroy the part, so be careful for your own safety and for the parts.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey