How do I remove an anodized finish?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
How do I remove an anodized finish?
Hi guys,
I have an MBA Products shift **** on my Ripper. This is the black anodized ball with the crossed flags that is sold by Eckler's and RK Sport for about $75. It is a great ****, in that is sits the lowest of any shift **** I have seen. It has a black anodized finish with the silver crossed flags.
Can I chemically remove the black anodized finish? I really want the ball in silver if possible. Can it be chemically removed, or do I need to sand then polish? I had a Kirban Billet ball before in silver and liked the finish a lot, but this Black one sits so low it reduced the shift on the Ripper even further.
Thanks.
Dave
I have an MBA Products shift **** on my Ripper. This is the black anodized ball with the crossed flags that is sold by Eckler's and RK Sport for about $75. It is a great ****, in that is sits the lowest of any shift **** I have seen. It has a black anodized finish with the silver crossed flags.
Can I chemically remove the black anodized finish? I really want the ball in silver if possible. Can it be chemically removed, or do I need to sand then polish? I had a Kirban Billet ball before in silver and liked the finish a lot, but this Black one sits so low it reduced the shift on the Ripper even further.
Thanks.
Dave
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (6SPEEDY)
From what I know the anodized finish goes into the parent material as much as on top. You can acid remove the finish but it will leave pits which will need to be polished out. Sand blasting may be another option with polishing.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,514
Likes: 0
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (Bluevette2000)
The best and easiest will be sand or bead blasting. Than it will be easily polished on a wheel. Anodizing is tough stuff. Any machine shop should be able to do this for you.
Joe
Joe
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (6SPEEDY)
I agree with the above posters.
I'm a medical engineer and have found, by accident, :eek: that the organic anodized coatings can be chemically removed. We use chemical sterilizers that attack / remove organic compounds from instruments in order to sterilize them. The process, however, can take 30 to 50 15-minute treatments.
We initially used organic anodization processes to protect our components and discovered this effect when we received a few returned assemblies. We switched to an inorganic anodizing process. (Probably more than you want to know . . . :sleep: )
Realistically, polishing off the piece is probably your best bet. The anodized surface is quite shallow so minimal material is removed. :)
Ed
I'm a medical engineer and have found, by accident, :eek: that the organic anodized coatings can be chemically removed. We use chemical sterilizers that attack / remove organic compounds from instruments in order to sterilize them. The process, however, can take 30 to 50 15-minute treatments.
We initially used organic anodization processes to protect our components and discovered this effect when we received a few returned assemblies. We switched to an inorganic anodizing process. (Probably more than you want to know . . . :sleep: )
Realistically, polishing off the piece is probably your best bet. The anodized surface is quite shallow so minimal material is removed. :)
Ed
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (Patches)
Find a 3 inch 9/16"-18 bolt, screw it into the ****, put in in a lathe at high speed, polish with Scotchbrite to remove the anodizing. You can further spin
polish with crocus cloth or 1500 to 2000 grit body shop paper to get a mirror finish. If you want to go furher, use a cloth polishing wheel and compound for aluminum. The bolt will give you something to hold onto. :)
polish with crocus cloth or 1500 to 2000 grit body shop paper to get a mirror finish. If you want to go furher, use a cloth polishing wheel and compound for aluminum. The bolt will give you something to hold onto. :)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 5
From: Satellite Beach, FL, USA
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (Patches)
Sell the MBA **** and buy the polished Kirban **** from Eckelers.
I have the MBA **** with 6 sp pattern, but I find it to be too large. The Kirban **** is a smaller diameter.
I have the MBA **** with 6 sp pattern, but I find it to be too large. The Kirban **** is a smaller diameter.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Elburn Illinois
Re: How do I remove an anodized finish? (6SPEEDY)
6SPEEDY,
You may want to think twice on having the anodized surface removed. It also acts as a coating to prevent aluminum oxide forming on the surface. With the anodizing removed and a lot of shifting you may get some black residue on your hand. You might want to have it clear anodized after you remove the black.
Tom
You may want to think twice on having the anodized surface removed. It also acts as a coating to prevent aluminum oxide forming on the surface. With the anodizing removed and a lot of shifting you may get some black residue on your hand. You might want to have it clear anodized after you remove the black.
Tom
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,952
Likes: 6,755
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Re: Another option
If you like the ****, consider shortening the shifter shaft. Also, most ***** can be drilled deeper and tapped. I've done this often and find that one can safely drill to within an 1/8 inch of the top and usually add an inch drop or so to most ball shifter; more if they have a base collar. Good luck.
