Can you remove the finish on 2D Maglite?
- Thread starter dthor68
- Start date
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ateallthepies
Enlightened
Yes, I know a guy who removes the anodizing on rifle scopes and then polishes them to a shine, so will work on lights too.
Lye or drain cleaner needs to be handled with extreme care.
Steve.
Lye or drain cleaner needs to be handled with extreme care.
Steve.
mrartillery
Enlightened
Liquid Plummer gel works great, doesn't run everywhere either.
UberLumens
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 143
The gel is great,
Use proper safety methods when handling this stuff,gloves goggles etc.
and
don't walk away, the lye will continue to eat the underlying aluminum if you don't stop the reaction once the color is gone.
Use proper safety methods when handling this stuff,gloves goggles etc.
and
don't walk away, the lye will continue to eat the underlying aluminum if you don't stop the reaction once the color is gone.
PCC
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes, people use lye to remove the anodizing from aluminum, but, you need to keep a few things in mind when doing something like this: lye is not something you want to handle with your bare hands. Use gloves and use this stuff in a well ventilated space and wear eye protection. Don't let the lye sit on the aluminum for too long as it will turn black shortly after it turns silver. Use a toothbrush or something to scrub the old finish off, especially in the nooks and crannys like on the knurling and such.
As an alternative, you can try doing a ceramic coating like some of the custom modders offer here on these forums.
As an alternative, you can try doing a ceramic coating like some of the custom modders offer here on these forums.
mrartillery
Enlightened
Sandblasting can pit aluminum unless you're very careful.
wait till black friday and pick a new one up for a bargain price and sell the old one at a garage sale.
DIWdiver
Flashlight Enthusiast
Under $16 at Target, with batteries (black). Kmart had gunmetal ones for around $20.
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I know they are cheap. I am planing on moding it and a 5D for fun. So expect some more questions in the future from me. I did buy some draino gel and it is much slower than I expected. The paint on the end cap came off after about 30 minutes. It did very little to other pieces after 30 minutes. I will try again soon and get some pics.
^Gurthang
Flashlight Enthusiast
The gel drain cleaners have less lye [sodium hydroxide] than the plain old crystal Drano.
Couple of points:
Make a solution in cold water. The solution will become warm as the sodium hydroxide dissolves.
Add the lye to the water, NOT water into lye, this can cause dangerous spattering!
Do the de-anodizing in a well ventilated area.
If the solution is strong enough the anodizing will fizz.
If the solution boils / spatters when the parts go in, the solution is TOO strong.
Use wire to suspend the parts in the solution.
Move the parts to keep fresh solution in contact w/ the ano.
Limit the parts time in the solution, sodium hydroxide will pit surfaces.
USE GOGGLES! One drop of solution on your eye will turn the cornea milky white: instant blindness....
Have a bucket w/ clean fresh water at hand, use it to rinse the parts. Avoid rinsing in a sink the waste solution is nasty stuff.
Couple of points:
Make a solution in cold water. The solution will become warm as the sodium hydroxide dissolves.
Add the lye to the water, NOT water into lye, this can cause dangerous spattering!
Do the de-anodizing in a well ventilated area.
If the solution is strong enough the anodizing will fizz.
If the solution boils / spatters when the parts go in, the solution is TOO strong.
Use wire to suspend the parts in the solution.
Move the parts to keep fresh solution in contact w/ the ano.
Limit the parts time in the solution, sodium hydroxide will pit surfaces.
USE GOGGLES! One drop of solution on your eye will turn the cornea milky white: instant blindness....
Have a bucket w/ clean fresh water at hand, use it to rinse the parts. Avoid rinsing in a sink the waste solution is nasty stuff.
