removing andonization questions

[Leviathan]

i got some white industries eno cranks last year in the andonized black. i am curious about removing the andonization from the crank arms since the color isn't holding too well. i have heard that oven cleaner and lye both work, but both scare me a little too. i don't want to mess up the arms, or end up with a chemical burn. i know that once this is done the arms will need to be polished so they don't oxidize.
i have also heard that any place that can apply andonization can also remove it fairly easily. anybody know of a local shop that can do that?

this pic isn't the best, but it will give you an idea of what i am dealing with. if i think abiut it, i will take a better pic tonight when i get home from work.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/PC270003.jpg

[TiRyder]

the oven cleaner that works is the oven cleaner with Lye. It will do what you are looking for and shouldnt really damage the crank arms if you dont let it stay on too long. It is not really environmentally friendly, but can be done relatively responsibly.

Make sure you do it outside or in a very well ventilated area. Lay down a small tarp or other plastic bage, spray the parts with oven cleaner and let it go to work. Protect everything and dont get it on yourself. Dispose of tarps/towels/etc appropriately.

Her is another link:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=1189946

[Leviathan]

thanks for the info and the link. there is a lot of helpful info there.
it looks like this project will wait until the winter is over, and i turn the hose bibs back on. this will most certainly be an outdoor project.

[kdweb]

How are you going to keep the Al from oxidizing after you make it naked? Besides, the wear marks give the cranks some character....

[dirtychain]

I have a bead blasting cabinet at my company in Baltimore. I've removed some really outdated purple anodizing from some parts before. Only hitch is, it leaves, well, a bead blasted finish. You would have a little work to perform to get them back to a polished finish. Lemmyno if you want to investigate further.

L8R, Scott

[AVee]

I have removed anadozing before with oven cleaner and it works pretty well. After getting off all the anodizing and cleaning away the oven cleaner I polished with Brasso (you can get it in most supermarkets) or Mothers polish. The Mothers worked better but it was sometimes hard to find.

[Leviathan]

dirtychain: i may take you up on that. i will pm you when/if i decide to remove the ando.

kdweb: i believe that if i polish it with a metal polish it will keep it from oxidizing. i may be wrong though. i know the wear marks give it character, but it still bugs me a little. besides i think silver crank arms would look pretty cool. pics i have seen of eno's with silver arms and a black ring look really good.


thanks for all the responses. at this point i am just weighing my options.

in other news, i will be attempting to go tubeless tonight for the first time. wish me luck.

[dirtychain]

Here's my result with some XTR cranks. I bought them used with anodizing already removed. I "converted" them to single speed and polished 'em up.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff56/29rider/KIF_1428.jpg

[Leviathan]

Here's my result with some XTR cranks. I bought them used with anodizing already removed. I "converted" them to single speed and polished 'em up.

those look really good. how are they holding up?

[dirtychain]

They've only got two rides on them since I (re)polished them, so I can't speak of their durability. However, I went as far as to file off the XTR logos as well as some scratches and dings. So if they begin to show wear, I know I can always sand & buff it out.

[mtbGreg]

They've only got two rides on them since I (re)polished them, so I can't speak of their durability. However, I went as far as to file off the XTR logos as well as some scratches and dings. So if they begin to show wear, I know I can always sand & buff it out.

And the real beauty is that they get lighter every time you clean them up!

[dirtychain]

And the real beauty is that they get lighter every time you clean them up!

Yeah.... next time I'll collect the shavings and weigh them to see just how much faster I'll be:thumbsup: Or, maybe I'll dump them in your pack to slow you down:D

[Leviathan]

how are they holding up npw? i have oven cleaner on hand. i also have the crank arms off and all cleanerd up ready to roll. i am waiting unto tomorrow until i can do this outside.

[2big2ride]

Once you remove the anno., you will always be fighting oxidation. Polishing will help, but it will be a full time job...too much work in my opinion. Bikes are meant to be ridden, not polished;) If you were to bead or sand blast, eventually the aluminum will build up its own coating. It is not as pretty as black ano or a highly polished finish.

Good luck

[Leviathan]

here they are after the initial dip before any real polishing
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2120001.jpg

here is one lightly polished next to the other untouched one
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2120004.jpg

here they are after the inital polishing.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2120017.jpg

i was going to mount them up, so i could ride tomorrow. unfortunatly i need to come into work early, so no riding tomorrow. the over time will be nice though. now that i can't ride. i will give them a good final polishing tonight when i get home. i will post pics of the final product when i am done.

here is one last pick of what they used to look like. side note: the chainring is new. my black one was toast from a year of use.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P1070021.jpg
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P1070020.jpg

[Leviathan]

i did the final polish and put them back on the bike. all said and done, i am happy with the results for $15 and a few hours of my time.
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2130001.jpg
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2130003.jpg
http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr95/robbesmith/bikes/P2130005.jpg