Stripped and polished - what I wasted my Sunday afternoon on

[mousiemaximus]

i don't think you can do that with anodized...

@headshrink. I put an old 510 carto/atomizer (I don't even know what they are anymore, an old janty thing) on there and I was super careful on the inside. I actually still have a tiny bit of finish inside near the connector that can't be seen under the delrin cover thing. I used zip strip, and I would recommend try clean-strip that Custom-classic recommended because the zip strip stuff took a couple hours and a lot of elbow grease.

 

[muzichead]

I used an old 510 atty in mine to protect the treads and pin fro getting anything inside them. I have stripped a Black Anodized as well as a Silver Vein. Actually the anodized was easier to strip... I used Klean Strip on both of mine. Picked it up from Ace Hdwe...

 

[custom-classic]

That looks great...and now you have me thinking. I wonder if you could use stripper on a black anodized? Powder coat sort of sits on the surface...I'm concerned about the penetration of the Anodize into the aluminum.

Has anyone tried to strip an anodized mod and polish it?

Thanks
Geo

From what I've read, sodium hydroxide (lye) is what's commonly used to strip anodize from aluminum. I haven't tried it though...

 

[xxbodkinxx]

Humm, might be stripping my black one when I get it back from Rob. Its kind of beat up anyways.

 

[MsLoud]

I put an old carto on mine...couple of honkin orings and screwed it down...didn't seem to effect the 510.

Also, with the carto sticking out...was easy just to lift it up out of the solution. I soaked paper towels and wrapped them around the REO.

 

[Debadoo]

Great job! I think those copper veins are so pretty in pics. Shame the person who had it didn't clear coat it. If they had, do you think you would have liked it? Hard to know when only seeing pics.

 

[Roscoe01]

From what I've read, sodium hydroxide (lye) is what's commonly used to strip anodize from aluminum. I haven't tried it though...

Please don't use sodium hydroxide. I will likely strip the anodizing off but when it touches aluminum it will start consuming it and the byproduct is dirty hydrogen which is highly flamable.

Trust me on this one. I spent a couple weeks missing an eyebrow & some eyelashes messing with that stuff.....Not to mention scaring the neighbor half to death.[emoji12]

 

[custom-classic]

A 5% sodium hydroxide 95% h2o solution is exactly what most people use...

Greased lightning has SH in it, and apparently works well...


https://www.google.com/search?ie=UT...nt&gfns=1&q=how+to+strip+anodizing&gws_rd=ssl

 

[Roscoe01]

A 5% sodium hydroxide 95% h2o solution is exactly what most people use...

Greased lightning has SH in it, and apparently works well...


https://www.google.com/search?ie=UT...nt&gfns=1&q=how+to+strip+anodizing&gws_rd=ssl

At that low of concentration it should be safe but I would take extra caution about ventilation and dwell time. Also be advised that caustics such as SH will oxidize the aluminum causing darkening. The oxidation can be removed with citric acid and or sanding.

My 2c. Just wanted to urge safety before someone decided to dunk their reo in Draino and blow up their kitchen.[emoji12]

 

[zmauls]

I did this recently as well. Perhaps my thread is the one you were referencing, OP?

Regardless, fantastic work! I was too lazy to go out to the Depot for 2000 grit, and the highest my local hardware store had was 1600, so I made do. Don't have one of those fancy buffers, either. I think I have some Turtle Wax lying around... might have to give that a try. Here's my 100% elbow grease results. Not quite as smooth, but surely equally efficient.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/643511-story-sparky-hp-lp-transformation.html

 

[RGLP4Lyfe]

Very nice indeed. I stripped one of mine. But yet to buff it up. That's next.

-Mark

 

[Fuzzy Bruce]

Stripped and polished on some one elses Reo looks cool! Just to much of a fingerprint magnet for me.

I love the look of a chromed out motorcycle, too, but mine is mat and wrinkled black for ease of care.

 

[Randy C]

Nice work! I too did the same thing not too long ago. I was a little apprehensive to jump, but I took mine to the next level

 

[mousiemaximus]

that's pretty cool, how did you put the pattern on it?

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Nice work! I too did the same thing not too long ago. I was a little apprehensive to jump, but I took mine to the next level
View attachment 407592

Always love seeing that mod, Randy.

 

[turbocad6]

that is cool, how did you do that pattern?

as far as striping anodized, I used to use easy-off oven cleaner to strip anodized parts... don't remember if it made the aluminum turn blackish but it did polish up real well after stripping so I think it should be ok

polished looks great, I did polish my grand when I first got it but after a few days I realized that the only time it looked great was right after polishing and right before actually touching or using it so I went to a brushed finish instead

 

[Randy C]

that's pretty cool, how did you put the pattern on it?

Thanks Papa! and... I'm sorry...I'm not trying to be a show off, I'm just trying to inspire others by showing how easy it is to achieve this look.

My three year old Grand was looking really rough and I wanted to try something different. I stripped mine with paint stripper and sent it to Rob- who rebuilt the guts. When I got it back, I engraved random vertical lines using a heavy duty engraver, hit it with some zinc primer (to fill the engraved "valleys"), then sanded the entire unit, removing excess primer- using vertical strokes. It has more of an "antique look" now so I don't obsess with trying to make it shine, and... I no longer drop it- since it's easier to hold on to with it being textured. I also filed down the connector height to make it low profile. I fell in love with my a Grand all over again! And... no more paint chips