How to remove anodising from aluminium Whilst aluminium is often anodised in order to make the metal stronger and more durable, it can have a negative effect on its texture and appearance. Some people simply prefer the look of the metal in its original mill finish state, or you want to re-anodise the aluminium in a different colour. The basic way The simplest way to remove anodising from aluminium is simply to rub it off with sand paper. Start with a medium grain and finish with the finest. Of course this system will only work on aluminium plate which is flat. You’ll need a more advanced way for components. The other disadvantage is the amount of elbow grease needed! The acid way Firstly, you will need a metal bin that is big enough to totally submerge the piece of aluminium that you wish to remove the anodised coating from. Fill the bin with water and be sure to take note of how many litres you have added. Make sure you have safety goggles and rubber gloves to protect yourself in case of an accident. Add a little under 1 litre of phosphoric acid to the bin for every 15 litres of water that you have added. Next, clip a thermometer to the edge of the bin; it needs to be touching the water/acid solution. Use a propane torch to heat the solution to approximately 199 degrees fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). Now, take the aluminium piece you wish to remove the anodising from and totally submerge it in the water/acid solution. Keep everything submerged in this way for around 3 minutes, then take it out of the bin. If the anodising coating has not been completely removed, submerge the aluminium for another minute. Cleaning after removing Once it is clean from anodising, rinse the aluminium item in clean water and make sure that all of the phosphoric acid has been washed off. Lay the aluminium on paper towels or old newspaper and leave to dry