Is there any way to remove the red or blue color from AN fittings. I have two on my tri carb intake and would like to lose the color on them. I read in a magazine once that you can remove the color but I can't find that article. Any info would help. Thanks.
Use drain cleaner that has lye in it. Mix one part cleaner to two parts water in a container that you can put your fittings in. After the fittings have been in the solution for a few minutes, the solution will start to boil. It might take about 10 minutes or so for the anodizing to be stripped. There will be a black residue on the fittings. Wash the fittings in clean water, using a tooth brush to scrub off the residue. Make sure you don't leave the fittings in the lye solution too long, because they will get eaten away quickly. Ask me how I know!
As said, use drain cleaner, but watch the fitting ones and a while, as the quality of the anodizing is diffrent with diffrent manufactorers. You don't wanna hurt the metal itself. Clean in tap water, and buff abit, then they be nice abd shiny! ................................. Taildragger&fenderless
You might check with some of the aviation supply houses for clear anodized fittings. As I recall, the anodizing 'hardens' the surface of the aluminum, it isn't just for appearance sake that it is used on fittings. Ray
If I can only find the fitting in red and blue anodized I have been glass beading the fitting and then buff it back out. Works better than chemical removal attempts I have tried.
I can't remember the manufacture that does it, possibly Earls, but they now offer a black finish. As it was said this not only for decoration, but to harden the soft aluminum metal
Fast and easy with no mess. Put the plastic or aluminum AN plugs in each end prior to keep the inside un contaminated as you don't want to take the anodized coating off of the inside. A wire wheel on a bench type grinder works very well also without any chemical mess.
The Jalopy Journal
