How to remove black anodizing from aluminum handlebars?

[reynoldslugs]

LL at Archival Clothing (owner of a beautiful blue Vanilla) and I were
discussing a problem - - how to remove black anodizing from otherwise
nice handlebars?

I love Salsa Bell-Lap bars, but am not crazy about the black finish.
If there is a way to remove the black and return them to a nice silver/
aluminum finish, that would be the holy grail of handlebars.

Anyone have any secret methods for accomplishing this?

thanks.
RL

[williwoods]

Very easy.......Draino liquid gel. takes about 30 minutes to soak and
then hose it off. You dont want to let it soak more than an hour or 2
though. I did this to a black ano chainring and it looked factory
matte silver when I was done. I had to gently scrub it a little and
did it in 3 passes, soak, rinse/scrub, rinse, dry repeat. If you do it
right they will look factory finished.

You wont be able to do this with the bars but for smaller parts I used
a ziplock freezer bag to soak the chainring.

good luck

[cyclotourist]

Brilliant!  I have read the over-cleaner method, but it involves heating them so didn't sound so great. 
This sounds perfect!  Might just have to do it on some bars tomorrow!

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

--
Cheers,
David
Redlands, CA

...in terms of recreational cycling there are many riders who would probably benefit more from
improving their taste than from improving their performance. - RTMS

[rperks]

I have used Red Devil lye in a warm water bath. Long gloves and eye
protection, think Fight Club soap making scene. Fast and easy, if the
anodizing is persistant you can help it along with a Scotch brite
pad. Rinse with water well when done. I stripped my A9 headset on
the roadeo this way, I bought it NOS Black. I thought about polishing
it out with Simichrome, but th emat gray looked good with the RCP
finish.

-
Rob Perks
http://oceanaircycles.com/

On May 17, 5:24 pm, reynoldslugs <be...@perrylaw.net> wrote:

[cyclotourist]

This is your annodization, and it's ending one minute at a time.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.

[Brett Lindenbach]

Not to rain on anyone's parade but be careful.  First, caustic soda can melt eyeballs, so wear proper eye protection.  Second, are we sure that the de-anodized metal will be as strong?  It seems like messing with the strength of your handlebar could be potentially disastrous.  I'm just sayin'!

[williwoods]

I doubt that short (30minute) dips would do anything bad. I have never
had a problem with pitting even after an hour soaking in draino gel.
While I have never done handlebars, I have done chainrings, brake
levers, cranksets and frames, etc......never had a problem. I wouldn't
hesitate doing a handlebar myself. That is not to say that I am an
expert or that you shouldn't be careful. Oven cleaner is another
story, I have seen that eat at the surface of aluminum after an hour.
Wasn't pretty, and turned the part black (black came off if you
scrubbed it gently)

I have had discussions with smarter people than me about this stuff
and the consensus was that the draino gel isn't strong enough to cause
issues for the short durations we are soaking our parts. Still if its
your first time maybe try a junk part and see for yourself. I really
don't think its an issue, but am happy to be corrected by someone with
experience with this sort of thing.

A separate issue: I have never had a problem with the finish over a
long period of time due to oxidation, although I believe that is an
issue, maybe it doesn't show itself for 10 years or more. I just
haven't seen it pop up.

On May 18, 4:46 am, Brett Lindenbach <brett.lindenb...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[williwoods]

One more point I should clarify in my instructions: when you dip the
part check on it every 10 minutes. you may find that you only need the
part in there for 20 minutes or even less before you pull it out to
rinse the first time, if you have scrubby brush you can scrub the part
gently and see the finish come off even while its soaking in the
draino, that will speed the process up a little. I am not sure how
even the finish will be if you can't dip the whole bar all at once,
but wouldn't be a big deal if your wrapping most of it in tape
eventually.

Cyclotourist - give us your report if you do your bars.

[cyclot...@gmail.com]

When doing bars, you would only really need to do the small bit of
area that is showing between the bar tape. Maybe 60mm or so, so that
makes it easier...

[Lynne Fitz]

Hmmm. Maybe when Sweetpea needs new bar tape... Handlebars are the
only component that isn't shiny silver.

On May 18, 12:10 pm, "cyclotour...@gmail.com" <cyclotour...@gmail.com>
wrote: