Removing Anodized coating

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:47 am

Hi all,

I'm just about to start polishing the rear swinging arm of my 1990 exup and wondered ............is there any easy way to remove the std factory coating. Maybe a process that can be done cheaply at home without hours of endless sanding

all advice welcome

thanks
Paul

hglenn55 · Post by **hglenn55** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:03 pm

If you want to remove anodizing find yourself a plastic tub large enough to fit the swingarm in. Then go to the hardware store and find a bottle of "Red Devil Lye". Fill the tub with COLD! water (DO NOT USE HOT WATER!!!!!!). I don't know the ratio of lye to water that you will need, but after my use I would think you would need about half a cup. Pour the lye slowly into the water, OH!!! use rubber gloves and a long sleeve shirt when doing this and do not use surgical/latex gloves use the thick dishwashing gloves. Slowly stir the water as you add the lye. Lay the swingarm in the water without splashing. Wait about 15 minutes and there should be bubbles forming on the skin of the swingarm, if not ad a little more lye. As the lye cleans you will notice "smute" on the metal, remove the swingarm and using a plastic brush and clean water clean the "smute" off then palce it back in the tub. You might have to do this a few times before you have a clean piece. Now that I told you this I believe you swingarm is powder coated not anodized, unless someone anodized a FZR 400 aluminum swingarm and put it on your bike. I do not anodize but from everything that I have read anodizing eats steel. If you have a steel powder coated swingarm go to Wally-Mart in the automotive section and buy the paint remover in the tan spray can (can't remember the name). You will have to apply the paint remover 5 or 6 times to remove the paint. I also had to bead-blast it to finally remove all of the paint. Try this website and you will know most of what you need regarding anodized material www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:32 pm

Thanks hglenn55,
It is an aluminium arm on a 1000 exup, and its definitely anodized. Problem is I'm in the Uk and no-one does Red Devil Lye. Most drain cleaners aren't specific about their contents. I also read that Red Devil has been discontinued in the USA so you might have to find an alternative product at your side of the pond

sodium hydroxide is the main ingredient, but I don't know enough about it (ratios/mixtures/form) to be able to make my own..
thanks for the suggestion anyway....much appreciated
Paul

gatecrasha · Post by **gatecrasha** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:49 pm

hi stig matey,

try flatting it off useing wet 'n' dry

800 through to 1200
then polish away

worked for me matey

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:48 am

Hi Steve,
thanks, good of you to offer mate...will bring the arm over for you to start right away. c u in 5 mins

alright maybe not..............

I was trying to avoid the endless rubbing...especially aound the fiddly bits and the welds. Thought it might be easier to 'chemically strip' the coating and then wear my fingers out doing the polishing

Hows your ride going mate....did you get the Mag feature?

cheers

Paul

Ural69 · Post by **Ural69** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:27 pm

http://www.mrmuscleonline.co.uk/

Works perfect

gatecrasha · Post by **gatecrasha** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:07 pm

stig - if i was gonna do it for anyone,
you'd get it done matey,

look after me

bikes having some biggy one off engineering done,
so still not done as yet,
been little busy with the site,
and our new project bike,
oh and the truck for transporting it,

busy busy lad,
new business is now up 'n' running
all beit slowly at the mo,

you got my email stig - keep in touch matey

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:17 pm

Ural69 wrote:http://www.mrmuscleonline.co.uk/

Works perfect

URAL69 mate....LOL

guess what I DID go out and buy this afternoon before reading your post!!!!!

thanks for the info, glad to know I haven't wasted my hard earned

Whats the best way to apply

...I was gonna fill a plastic bucket with hot water and submerse the whole thing, keeping a good eye on the time and effects

Ural69 · Post by **Ural69** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:39 pm

Neat muscle to rag and put rag top of the anodised part and wait

Don't mix it with water or anything. Wash carefully after, use cold water.

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:51 pm

thanks will give it a try later in the week...when I get more time

help greatly appreciated

Paul

Ural69 · Post by **Ural69** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:03 pm

After MrMuscle

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:14 pm

Mmmmmmm Niicceee

Food for thought...can't wait to get stuck in now :cool

How long did it take to strip?

Ural69 · Post by **Ural69** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:23 pm

Mmm, maybe 2h? Hard to say, i did it with other work

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:11 pm

Ural..that avatar looks well cool..Is it your ride..any larger pics fr closer inspection?

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:46 pm

Ural mate.....it must be the water around here..... :sad

4hrs and its hardly touched the coating

Your Mr Muscle must be something really special...make sure you don't splash any on ya A*S whilst in the loo.

I've got hold of some concentrated Sodium Hydroxide crystals......its on there as I type...I'll check back later...........

Hopefully, there will be more than a melted pile of aluminium on the workshop floor

creed12r · Post by **creed12r** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:53 am

Having had a good look at URAL69's photo of his swinging arm, around the weld at the back it looks like a black finish.
This black finish was applied to the 91/92 RU only and was painted. I think this is why he had an easier time of removing the PAINT.

I don't know of anything that will remove an anodised coat other than wet and dry.

Good luck

chris

Ural69 · Post by **Ural69** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:42 am

I think somebody else have painted swingarm...
My swingarm have silver anodisation before mr muscle, in finnish putkimies

It's widely used method here finland, remove anodization with 'putkimies' :cool

Owen cleaners work as well. Easy-Off, Mr Muscle etc.
Short Googling: http://www.rcbros.com/forum/forum_posts ... 6&get=last

Try Nitro Mors or other paint remover, maybe y have painted swing...

dragracer1951 · Post by **dragracer1951** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:56 am

any oven cleaner will get it

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:11 pm

People..make sure all the paints off before you start to strip the anodize..it has to be maga clean ..as I found out to my cost (had to treat again)

I finally used Caustic Soda from a local hardware store...just the polishing now :sad

[img][img]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b250/ ... pedarm.jpg[/img][/img]

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:46 pm

Well guys....
finally spent a few hours with the wet & dry rubbing down the arm

and then got to grips with polishing

[/img]

Hope you like it...

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE ABOUT THE ANODIZE

EXUP Worldwide

Removing Anodized coating

Removing Anodized coating

Easy!

swinging arm