[HotRod250F]

Anybody know of a way to remove anodizing? My red anodized rims have faded to a horrid pink, I want to remove and restore to natural aluminum. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, can you powdercoat over something that's been anodized?

[RhinofromWA]

Dont have any solid answers.

I think oven cleaner can take annodization off alluminum. You will need(want) to polish them after. Maybe search for that online 1st. It has been about 15 years since I would have been concerned about removing annodization. :)

I can't see why they can't be poder coated. Worst case scenario you have to clean the annodization off 1st then powder coat. The place you would powder coat them would be able to answer for sure.

[lastchancebev]

I use this stuff:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Anodising-Stripper-500g-Makes-1-gallon-anodizing_W0QQitemZ290368208491QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_S upplies_ET?hash=item439b4b3e6b#ht_520wt_941

it works great. I went through a period of anodising all of my own stuff - rims, frames, swingarms - you name it!

[97 Polaris Ultra SPX]

I heard letting oven cleaner set on it for a little while takes the anozidation off.

[lastchancebev]

It will, all it really needs is an acid but the oven cleaner will require scrubbing to get it to come off without leaving a faint hue or patches. The advantage of the dip is you simply leave it in the solution and hey presto!

[KJ790]

Generally Lye is used to remove anodizing. A lot of drain cleaners are 100% lye, just check the label. Let the aluminum soak in it, it will start to bubble. When the part has turned dark gray pull it out and wipe all of the gray film off. Make sure to wear gloves and goggles when dealing with Lye, it can be dangerous. Yes you can powder coat over anodizing.

[chuck4788]

Anodize is a process that oxidizes a thin surface layer of the aluminum. It is a very hard and protects the aluminum from abrasion and corrossion. Anodize is a natural grey color but can be dyed to provide a surface color. Red dye is very subseptable to UV fading, maybe all you need to do is have them redyed.

Anodize is a very good based for paint or powder coating.

[HotRod250F]

Thanks for the response guys. Anyone have experience with powdercoating their wheels? how do they hold up? I'm thinking of going black.

[acgmx]

Chuck the op didn't ask what anodizing is. He asked how to remove it.

Anyways the reply explaining the use of lye is correct.

To add to his reply

do not leave your rim unattended in the lye. Prolonged expososer will eat the alluminum away. When I do removal I have a washing bucket to remove the lye periodily to make sure it's done.

Red devil drainclean is the best stuff I've used.

[rezrider]

Anodize is a process that oxidizes a thin surface layer of the aluminum. It is a very hard and protects the aluminum from abrasion and corrossion. Anodize is a natural grey color but can be dyed to provide a surface color. Red dye is very subseptable to UV fading, maybe all you need to do is have them redyed.

Anodize is a very good based for paint or powder coating.

I'm glad you responded as you did...a lot of the guys on here think anodize is an "application or coating" (like paint), as you note it isn't it is a chemical reaction with the aluminum therefore there is no removal unless you "strip it" which requires dunking into a tank of acid (or maybe lye as noted in this thread). The anodize actually becoems part fo the item that was anodized. By stripping it material is removed due to the "impregnation" of the anodizing process into the aluminum...

As for color...it depends on what "type" of anodize being applied...type II which is the industry staple is clear where as HARD ano is gray and can only be dyed black unless things have changed from years back.

I've read on here on several threads of guys performing their own anodizing, my experience has been totally industrial based.

[chuck4788]

I provided an explanation of what anodize is for the reasons you stated. I thought an explanation of anodize would provide better information to the OP so he could decide on the best options.

Removing anodize requires removing the oxidized layer plus a bit more, which changes the surface finish and the dimensions of the part.

[acgmx]

Ok. I ran my own anodizing shop about 10yrs ago.

Hard anodizing can be colored just about any color due to the thickness and proccess it does not look good with light colors. Green and black are the standards tho.

The decrative anodizing is a thin layer that takes light colors and due to light bouncing off the metal it is vibrant.

How ever when the coloring proccess is done the pores that absorbe the dye in the anoxic layer are sealed. So you can not just re-dye the parts. You have to strip the current film prep the alluminum and then re-anodize.

If you are patient and copatent you can do it your self.

For a rim you would need a good sized tank to allow full submersion of the rim. The tanks cannot be made of metal. Glass or plastic.

Stip the old anodizing off.
rince lye off.
Polish rim extensivly. The more it looks like a mirror the better.
Desmut the rim. Wear nitriles glove when degreasing and cleaning. Any oils dirt etc will screw up the finished out come.
Rince with distilled deionized water.
Immediatly place rim in anodizing tank and turn on the juice.
90-120 minutes will yeild a good film.
Remove from charge and tank. Rince with cold distilled deionized water.
Place in dye tank. 10-120+ mins. Rule of thumb two shades darker will yeild the color you want. Black takes twice as long as any other color.
You can use a sponge to extract dye from the pores allowing a redye of a lighter color for a super nova type look. You cab use rubber cement to get a splash look.
Once dying is done place the rim in a steam bath. This closes the pores and locks the color.

Rince again and you be done.

If you want to have matched sets you need to do them at the same time.

For small scale work you can use fish tanks. 50/50 sulpheric acid/ distilled water
a batery charger lead Athode plates and Rits dye.

If you do this. The actual growing of the film produces hydrogen gas and can blow up is not ventalted. Be carefull.

Visit casewellplating for kits and a guide.