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So being a bit of a tart my new bike is silver with orange accents but my pedals are reused from my old bike so were once anodised red but they're now quite beaten and more importantly don't match the orange.
I'm wondering if there's a relatively easy way to strip the dye out of the anodising (leaving the protective layer), or if I got the pedals blasted how bad they'll look when the bare alu oxidises, or whether I should buy some new pedals... (most likely composite ones so they don't wear so obviously).
Just buy Hope and use TFR, they’ll soon fade.
I don't think you can remove the colour
You will only be able to completely remove the anodising which is just a pain in the ass, buy new pedals and have a spare se on the shelf.
I once put a dark gunmetal grey XTR rear mech in the dishwasher. Put on an intense wash, it was definitely paler (and cleaner) when it came out. Removes all lubricant too, so beware.
Surely as a biketart you'd be buying new pedals though?
Doesn't oven pride remove anoidising?
Just go to an electroplaters. They can strip the plating and reanodize to the colour you want. Probably all for a minimum charge.
Bottle of oven pride is what you need
Been used in the bmx world for years to strip anodising off stems, pedals, seat clamps etc...
Don't leave it on too long as it will damage the bare alloy finish
I did a set of pedals a few years ago, once all the anodising was removed i polished the bare alloy to a nice shine and left them like that with no problems
You can also use caustic soda, this is quicker but can seriously damage the parts if left in too long (eats away at the alloy) also you have to be careful of the fumes etc.. so most people opt for oven pride
Caustic soda is what you want, mix it as suggested on the tub and dip your parts in, they can start to bubble quite vigorously so have some fresh water close by to rinse off!
I have done a selection of stuff recently, a burgtec stem, Crank brothers pedals and my fork adjusters!
I’ve seen restoration projects on youtube where the bloke puts threaded bar through a jam jar lid, fills jar with sand and the part that needs patina removing. Attaches jar to a cordless drill zip ties the trigger( low speed) and then leaves it running.
Might work with anodising.
Ultrasonic cleaner will probably strip it off it you give it a chance.
Yep, Oven Pride. Turned orange Salsa flip lock into silver one that way.
A bit of buffing after really good rinse with clean water wash and it was as good as straight from the box.
Cheers!
I.
Buy a bottle of Sodium Hydroxide / Caustic soda (thats the thing in oven cleaner as others have suggested) and dilute it. You can get loads of it from a builders merchants. It basically dissolves any organic matter so I also use it as drain cleaner. Don't get it in your eyes, definitely wear glasses, and wash off quickly if you get it on your skin.
Have been using caustic soda since the 80's as anyone around back then and into BMX will know you couldn't move for anodised parts.
Do it outside and don't put face above it (the fumes are awful)
Watch it very closely and keep removing the part to check it
Use Autosol to polish up/remove black