how to remove black anodize from aluminium

[Retracted_Yeti]

Caustic soda makes the ano just wash off. UNFORTUNATELY (!) it has no effect on the aluminium! I tried! Even if left for many long hours. The shiny bits remain shiny and the matte, matte, so any scratches or previously polished parts of the item will still be glaringly obvious and the whole will need polishing for a consistent finish, if applicable.

Must have been VERY weak caustic to have no effect on the ally!
This stuff WILL dissolve ally if strong enough, and left for long enough!...…...trust me!!!!!!!

Cheers.

Roy.

[the logun-ator]

ive polished a few guns/scopes up over the years,1200/1500 grade wet/dry paper followed by buffing sissal/tight leaf mop using correct cutting compounds/waxes.
caustic soda will corrode/eat alloy(used it for eatching bare alloy before painting) depending on the mixture BUT it has to get past the anodizing first
i can also confirm the heat will remove some anidizing to a point as had 11 guns destroyed in a fire a few years back mind you i still had to sand/cut past the hardening before they would buff.

[MAXMAN]

Drain cleaner works very well. 50% (sodium hydroxyde) drain cleaner to water.( diluting slows the process so you can catch it at the right time) Add the drain cleaner to the water not the other way round in a plastic tub. Put your anodised bits in. Keep agitating it as it looks like its not removing the anodising. Roughly 2 -5 mins later itll be a mat silver. Take out and neutralise in water. Polish or brushed finish looks good but thats a personal preference. Gloves and goggle are a very good idea just incase !

Atb Shaun

[--ped--]

take care with caustic it will dissolve ally but it is the way to remove anodising as it dissolves the outer hardened layer allowing the dye to wash out of the anodised layer
to strip I use 200g of caustic pearls /liter and heat mix to about 40-50 degrees
mixing caustic with water will cause the solution to heat up I use a tooth brush to scrubb the part in the solution but if suspended in it it will also come clean
fit stainless grub screws to any threads as it will eat metal away so threads will be a looser fit

[Steve Valentine]

Drain cleaner works very well. 50% (sodium hydroxyde) drain cleaner to water.( diluting slows the process so you can catch it at the right time) Add the drain cleaner to the water not the other way round in a plastic tub. Put your anodised bits in. Keep agitating it as it looks like its not removing the anodising. Roughly 2 -5 mins later itll be a mat silver. Take out and neutralise in water. Polish or brushed finish looks good but thats a personal preference. Gloves and goggle are a very good idea just incase !

Atb Shaun

This is how I’ve removed anodising in the past, it’s a very effective method.

Be extremely careful though as it’ll destroy alloys if left too long. Don’t leave the part unattended and check often.

I got my drain cleaning crystals from the quid shop.

[bighit]

Must have been VERY weak caustic to have no effect on the ally!
This stuff WILL dissolve ally if strong enough, and left for long enough!...…...trust me!!!!!!!

Cheers.

Roy.

We used to melt Ali seat post s seized in steel bike frames with it.
One of the easiest ways to get them out.