9/11/14 7:24 PM

so i google-fu'd alternative ways to remove anodization besides lye/drano, as i've found it to be too aggressive. i found a cleaner called "greased lightning" that's a gentle, slow-acting, low-effort product.

soak, scrub occasionally with a toothbrush, flip over, repeat until stripped to taste. i've done a half-dozen stems and am leaving in various states of finish which i'll then lock in with clear anodization at a local shop.

modern easton EA90, this will stay with the matte shot-peened finish:
<img src="http://brown-snout.com/cycling/tech/diy-anodization-removal/anodization-removal-1.jpg">

retro 3ttt record, this is going to full-shiny bling:
<img src="http://brown-snout.com/cycling/tech/diy-anodization-removal/black-ano-stem-before.jpg">
<img src="http://brown-snout.com/cycling/tech/diy-anodization-removal/black-ano-stem-after1.jpg">
<img src="http://brown-snout.com/cycling/tech/diy-anodization-removal/black-ano-stem-after2.jpg">

a mess of other stems similarly de-anodized:
<img src="http://brown-snout.com/cycling/tech/diy-anodization-removal/anodization-removal-2.jpg">

9/11/14 8:27 PM

Wondering if you got tennis elbow polishing the 3T?

9/11/14 8:38 PM

i chucked a buffing wheel in my drill-press. even with that it still takes some time! i used 320, then coarse scotchbrite, then 800 before using the sideways buffing wheel -- that progression worked pretty good.

a couple years ago i sanded a heavy batch of clear and paint off of a colnago star fork to get refinished. that was like 6 hours of painstaking, careful sanding work...in the process i destroyed my rotator cuffs (both sides!)...for like a week my arms were useless -- i couldnt pull the wings off a mosquito if i had to!

9/11/14 8:42 PM

I used to wet sand and polish everything for a while when in my 20s. Semi-Chrome still sweats out of me sometimes...

9/11/14 11:48 PM

Anodization protects and hardens the Al surface. Why would you take that hard coating off the product when it is there for more than just paint?

For example, all upper and lower receivers used on AR type rifles have to anodized to protect them from wear.

9/12/14 6:33 AM

the anodization is being reapplied, maybe you missed this: <i> "...which i'll then lock in with clear anodization at a local shop. "</i>

these stems were anodized either black or gunmetal gray, and i'm after the classic silver finish. after removal of the aforementioned dark anodization and then finishing to taste, i'm having them RE-ANODIZED to restore the much desired surface protection.

9/12/14 11:18 AM

Copy that.

The handy guy you are you may want to look into just doing it yourself. Lots of folks do home cooks in the firearm world.

9/12/14 11:47 AM

...but with all the chemicals and electrical equipment to "do it right"...i just have no appetite to take up a new "hobby" right now.