what do I do with all this smut!!!

[krsimulis]

I have a ton of motorcycle parts I am trying to plate, and I am only having problems stripping this anodize layer off. I have resorted to taking a wire brush or just plain sand paper to it instead of anodize stripping it because the layer of smut is so thick its like double work. Is there anything I can use at the hardward store to clean this off. I just ordered the plating kit and I am trying to cut down the work some. Should I just keep sanding the anodize layer off, or is there something to remove the smut
thanks in advance for the help

[M_D]

Stripper usually leaves a layer of dark smut that can be cleaned off by various acids. Caswell sells desmutt that works very well to remove it, it usually only takes a short time and the parts come out sparkling clean.

The bad thing about mechanically removing some of the anodize is if you do some of the part that way, and then use stripper, the stripper will attack the bare spots while it is still working on the anodized spots. Once stripper removes the anodizing, it starts eating the bare aluminum at a higher rate. It may or may not matter but it is good to know that in case it will matter on your parts.

There are kinds of stripper that remove anodizing and are virtually safe to the aluminum, but they are hazardous and not even used much commercially anymore.

[krsimulis]

From the little research I have done about this problem, it seems to come up when you do motorcycle parts more often then other pieces. I was having a serious problem with mechanically removing the anodize layer because of this problem, and caused myself more work. I also found out that the smut left is a salt based whatever, and solvent resistent. I tried everything I could get my hands on at the time, really because I was too impatient to order something else, and found that CLR does the trick, and very very well I might add. Thanks for the help
Kenny