Home Grown Anno Removal??

[DevilMan]

Alright well I tried to take pics, but my camera batteries are dead...

I started with a gloss red duckbill. A small sour cream container with lid. Rubber/Nitrile gloves. An old toothbrush. A twist tie. A bottle of LYE drain cleaner.

I put just enough water in the SC container to cover the DB. I put the DB into the water and then took a spoon and dipped up a bit of the LYE. I dribbled it into the water slowly and let it start. It turned the water pink pretty quickly but took a bit of time to fully strip the part. I used the toothbrush one or two times but not really that much. I added just a tad more Lye to the mix about halfway through and it really took off on bubbling and stripping. I would say the time was about 5 minutes from the time I put it in, til it was all clean. I didn't have a clock to check though so it could have been longer.

One part down.... how many to go???

DM

[DevilMan]

Oh and BTW, Masking Tape is not a proper masking method. Though I didn't think it would be, I thought I'd try. It went well til about halfway through... then it just peeled off...

Gonna try some latex paint and maybe some of the plasti-dip I have next...

DM

[C_losjoker]

good stuff here, please keep posting and let us know the process. I have some parts and guns that id like to do this with. wish i could make it out this sunday, might be making it next tho or next time you guys are out let me know.
thanks

[DevilMan]

Hey Joker!!! We're playing SATURDAY!!! Not SUNDAY...

So come on down!!!

DM

[Karta-mag]

You might try rubber cement as a masking method I know some annodizers use it for splash finishes so it might work when stripping.

[DevilMan]

You might try rubber cement as a masking method I know some annodizers use it for splash finishes so it might work when stripping.

Mucho gracias amigo!!!!!

DM

[PrimoRocker]

Why strip em if you are gonna paint em??? Doesn't the anno harden the part??? So it's stronger? I can understand stripping if you are gonna anno it again, but why strip it just to paint it????

DM

Why would you strip parts before you paint them? Doesn't stripping remove a layer of alum form the part, and so does anno'ing. so just reanno'ing is best, right?

[DevilMan]

Why would you strip parts before you paint them? Doesn't stripping remove a layer of alum form the part, and so does anno'ing. so just reanno'ing is best, right?

Not sure what you are asking.... you quoted me though and confused me so maybe I confused you...

I asked why strip the part if you are painting the part. You can paint over the anno no problem. But you can't ANNO over the anno. So to re anno something it has to have the old anno pulled off. To paint over something I don't see the reason to pull the old anno off, since the paint can adhere to the old anno just as well as it can to the bare AL. Now if you are using an etching primer for the part then sure I can see you pulling off the old anno.

I was wondering why pull off the old anno, just to put a layer of paint on it.

DM

[punkncat]

Lye works quite well. Like the crystal Drano listed before. PLEASE, if you decide to do that wear proper protective gear, and have vinegar on standby.

As you soak the piece you will see the anno begin to dissolve. Working it over with a brush or very light sandpaper will be needed to remove everything. As soon as you are done, clean it off as well as stopping the "process" by rinsing with the Vinegar and then clean water.

I would suggest sealing the unannoed aluminum with a wax/polish of your choice to keep it from oxidizing.

[Tym]

This works sweet!

I'm using the draino crystal method.

About 1 teaspoon of crystals per cup and a half of water.
If you want the process to be slower, use 1 teaspoon of crystal per 2 cups water.

Add the crystals to water, not water to the crystals. *BE SAFE*
Use Rubber gloves, I got some industrial strength gloves (acid resistant) from the local dollar store. Also wear eye protection, while scrubbing it's not uncommon to spray water/draino up a little bit..

I let the part soak for 5 - 7 mins, keeping the mixture agitated (moving the part or the container around) to help it along. After soaking, I hit it with an old toothbrush, this works great for getting into little tight areas too..

Once the part is all clean (2 - 4 mins of scrubbing depending on the size of the part) I take it out and run it under water for 5 - 10 secs, making sure to rinse all the solution off.. Then I dump the solution down the drain (It is draino after all) Then rinse out the container, and my gloves.

Then I dry the part off and hit it with the scotchbright lightly to even everything out. Then use some rubbing compound, I'm using buffing abrasive, the one I'm using is for stainless (the green bar) cause I have access to it for free. But you can buy the red bar (for aluminum). The only difference is the green is a bit more abrasive, but it's just as good if you don't over do it. With the red, you can rub all you want.

Then I clean it off with a soft cloth, and use some mothers aluminum polish. By the time I'm done, it has a mirror Finnish..

I filmed me de-anoing a JCS foregrip then polishing it up, I will be putting it on youtube soon, I'll update you all in this thread when I'm done.

-Harley

[Sumthinwicked]

think ill watch this i might be redoing my paintjob on my longbow i have alot of coats of paint to strip off LOL

[Tym]

think ill watch this i might be redoing my paintjob on my longbow i have alot of coats of paint to strip off LOL

I don't think this method will work that well for paint.. What you want to use is paint stripper.. Much the same method, but pure paint stripper soak it, scrub it. If there is Anno under that then draino it

[Rudz]

I wanna see the video!!

[Sumthinwicked]

I don't think this method will work that well for paint.. What you want to use is paint stripper.. Much the same method, but pure paint stripper soak it, scrub it. If there is Anno under that then draino it

the anno under is is perfect im the one who painted it and i know them LOL i need to repaint it