I have tried Aircraft stripper so far and it won't get the anodizing off the swingarm..i brushed it on heavy and let it sit for an hour or so,washed it off and did it again.But the coating is still on there..Any ideas to get the anodizing off without ordering stuff? i need to get this done ASAP..

Will sand blasting work?

Also i heard to use EZ OFF oven cleaner is it way better then aircraft stripper?

The swingarm is a 98 900rr arm..my frame is polished so i need to do my arm...

Thanks for any and all help

Steve

 

I did my quad swingarm. I used sandpaper. wet sand for hours, starting with 240grit, then 600 then 800 then 1000 then 1200 then 1500. sand in one direction.

 

Easy off oven cleaner does a good job of removing anodizing.

 

If you choose to use it at all, oven cleaners are engineered for hot surfaces. It will be much more effective if you heat the swingarm. If you can find an oven it fits in, use it. If not, try using a heat gun.

 

just sand it

 

There are only 3 ways to remove anodize froma piece of aluminum.
1.) Sand Sand and Sand some more.
2.) Find someone in your area that has a bead blaster and have it removed that way.
3.) Find someone in your area that already does anodizing and have it chemically stripped. Aircraft Remover and Easy Off will not touch anodize.
I know this because I do small piece anodizing. What happens when you anodize is you open the pores in the surface of the aluminum. When you put the pice in color, the color seeps into the open pores. When you "cure" the piece, you actually close the pores again, trapping the color inside.

 

Actually, Easy-Off or Lye DO a good job of removing anodizing. I have used both with much success. Caswell Plating offers a great product to do this job (http://www.caswellplating.com/), check them out.

Here is a great article on anodizing & stripping written by a pro.

http://www.uponone.com/howtos/1.pdf

 

i agree EZ-Off works like a champ..sprayed it on let it sit for about an hour went out to check on it and the swingarm was black,i rinsed it off and redid it just for the hell of it and all of the anodizing came off..hit it with 400 grit at first and it looked satin,then i went to 600 then 1000 now i am doing the 1500 final sanding,then i'll use rouge and the cotton wheel to get it like chrome..

Steve

 

yea wet sanding and a cotton wheel do the job very nicely. takes lots and lots of time though!

tigger

 

Jestco products has a remover for just that. Check it out on www.jestcoproducts.com Everything you will need.

 

I JUST GOT THROUGH DOING MINE I USED A WIRE BRUSH ON A DREMMAIL THAT AND A FLAP WHEEL OF SAND PAPER

 

Man, if you guys take too much off, you risk weakening the arm of grinding a weld. At no point should you use power tooks to polish a bike other than the buffer. Use oven cleaner or anodize stripper to remove the finish. Clean the piece wearing gloves and 400grit wet sand. Don't let the oils and dirt from your hands touch the swing arm. After you achieve a satin polish look, proceede to buff with a hard wheel and #1 (Emery) compound. Remember, even lite movements with the wheel. I always clean the part with wd40 before starting to polish with the cotton wheel and #2 compound. This is to make sure you don't get a scratched surface. After all the buffing is done, you have to put at least 3 coats of wax on the piece to geep it looking good......
Or, just send it to me and I'll charge you an arm and a leg to do it.......lol

 

go get yourself an orbital sander!!! really best 130 bucks i spent!!! i can do an anadizedframe, swingarm,subframe,peg mounts,and fairing stay all in about 20 hours!!! use 220,400,600,1000,1500,then 1500 wet. the more steps you take to bring it down the easier it is. my first bike took me 70 hours then with a little trial and error and some help from the people on here now im doing it on the side cause it just got easy!!! as far as taking too much off and weakening it...i miced out every frame i have done and worse case with a frame that i thought i took alot off of because it was scratched bad was 1/64 wich is lower than the variance that the factory is allowed in frame thickness!!!!