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Q&As since 1989
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Wash off "magic marker" pen marks from anodized alum. surface
Q. I made some ID marks on the anodized aluminum surface with "magic marker" pen. I am unable to wash it off with anything. Not even with lacquer thinner [on eBay or Amazon] that works on any other surfaces as solvent. Is there any solution to wash this off.
Peter TothCABINETS - Berkeley, California, USA
2005
First of two simultaneous responses --
A. Well,
if you're talking about a wrought alloy, and not a casting, I would say it sure sounds like your anodize was not sealed properly.
If you're talking of a type III ("hard") coating then I would expect the same result.
But, on the other hand, your part is a type II, then I would say it was lacking a seal, or at least an insufficient seal.
metal finishing - San Jose, California, USA
2005
Second of two simultaneous responses -- 2005
A. Try hydrogen peroxide or diluted drain cleaner (sodium hypochlorite with silicate inhibitor). Don't use acid or caustic (sodium hydroxide).
Verify that the anodize was properly sealed. Does it pass the salt spray test required of Type II coatings per
MIL-A-8625 / MIL-PRF-8625
[on DLA]F? Additionally, testing per ASTM
ASTM B136 Standard Method for Measurement of Stain Resistance of Anodic Coatings on Aluminum seems appropriate.
- Goleta, California
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A. Try some proprietary paint stripper or mix 2 parts acetone [on eBay or Amazon] and one part ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] (25%), Maybe it helps!? Good luck!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2005
Q. We had some parts hard anodized, when our Inspector inspected the parts he wrote the dimensions on the part with red ink (sharpie)after inspection, he tried to clean/removed the ink and he failed, the ink remained in the part.
Any suggestions in how to removed red ink from hard anodized parts besides using Iso Alcohol, acetone
[on
eBay or
Amazon] or stripping the parts and re-anodize?
- Huntington Beach, California, USA
November 9, 2012
A. Hard Coat is usually not sealed, but with time, temp cycling, humidity cycling it will partially seal itself. If the ink got into the pores and some partially sealing started, then you cannot get the ink back out.
Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services
Garner, North Carolina
November 12, 2012
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