Cleaning Anodized Crankset?

carl1983
carl1983 Posts: 162
edited July 2014 in Workshop
HI, Bought a Dura Ace 7410 crankset for a vintage build which I am yet to receive, It is a little dull and has minor scratches so I'm wondering whats the best way to get it to a like new state? I assume I will have to somehow remove the anodized layer then sand it? probably avoiding the black dura ace logo to.

Any sugestions/tips will be very helpful.

Thanks.

Comments

  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Any piccies?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • mr_evil
    mr_evil Posts: 234
    Beware that bare aluminium needs frequent polishing to keep it shiny; personally, I would just leave minor scratches. If you really want to do it, then oven cleaner will remove anodizing (the logo will come off too), followed by progressively finer wet and dry paper to get it shiny.
  • JayKosta
    JayKosta Posts: 635
    I've used NeverDull metal polish and it works fine.
    You can probably find similar metal polish products at an automobile parts store.

    After cleaning and polishing the metal, apply an auto wax to protect the finish.

    Jay Kosta
    Endwell NY USA
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Solvol will polish all bits up nice and shiney but any metal that has been polished will need regular upkeep to stop it dulling. No need for wet 'n' dry.

    You can, to a certain extent, use cutting compound as well (the stuff car sprayers use to cut down new paintwork to make it smooth and shiney).

    I'm intrigued for piccies to see the condition of it at the mo.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • carl1983
    carl1983 Posts: 162
    I havn't received it yet but I have the picture from the ebay seller I have bought it from, the seller has described it as "Good condition for the year" and it doesn't look to bad in the pics but I am looking for near perfection if thats at all achievable!

    7410.jpg

    It will go together with a 7402 rear derailleur I have bought today which is in very good condition but or a couple marks.

    7402.jpg

    Both will be added to this Ribble 531c which in the next couple months will be getting a full respray keeping the original colour and logos evn new Reynolds 531 stickers :-)

    DSCF1400.jpg
  • lapavoni10
    lapavoni10 Posts: 146
    Do you have access to a bench grinder?
    http://www.screwfix.com/p/metal-polishi ... 25mm/31173
    and get a stick of paste for it, away you go. You will be surpised at how quick you can get a decent finish.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,172
    The 7410 is not mirror polished. WIpe it but don't grind it

    BTW: it is one of the few cranksets in the Shimano range that wants a 103 mm JIS bottom bracket, a size which Shimano no longer makes. I suggest you get a Tange
    left the forum March 2023
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    That's going to be sweet.

    Solvol will bring that up by hand with no worries but you'll have to keep on top of it as it will lose the shine once done (not a biggie though and once you've done the initial polishing it won't take much to keep it all lovely).

    It will be a couple of hours in front of a film drinking a glass wine job by hand to make sure that you don't destroy the D/A logos by mistake. Again, not a biggie but Solvol (as all these metal polishes are) is abrasive, so will take that logo off before you know what's happened.

    I wouldn't go for the bench grinder option,but,along the same lines, you could use a Dremel - just easier to control where you're going. For large parts then yup, bench grinder a go - go.

    Overall, simple to do, nice job actually as you'll see instant improvements. But as above, if its not meant to mirror polished is that the look you want? I can see the attraction though.

    Keep us updated - promises to be a winner.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • mr_evil
    mr_evil Posts: 234
    ...It will be a couple of hours in front of a film drinking a glass wine job by hand to make sure that you don't destroy the D/A logos by mistake...
    You'll never be able to match the finish of the anodized parts with the bare aluminium parts. If you want to remove the scratches, it needs to be all stripped, which means the logos come off too.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    The 7410 is not mirror polished. WIpe it but don't grind it

    BTW: it is one of the few cranksets in the Shimano range that wants a 103 mm JIS bottom bracket, a size which Shimano no longer makes. I suggest you get a Tange

    Planet X do a nice 103mm Token BB that appears very durable, and you can replace just the cartridge bearings when they eventually fail. They also have the Stronglight JP400 in 103mm. Don't buy the FSA BB, it's truly awful.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Mr Evil wrote:
    ...It will be a couple of hours in front of a film drinking a glass wine job by hand to make sure that you don't destroy the D/A logos by mistake...
    You'll never be able to match the finish of the anodized parts with the bare aluminium parts. If you want to remove the scratches, it needs to be all stripped, which means the logos come off too.

    Agree that you can't match it perfectly but you can blend out the scratches so that you can't see them unless you stare from 2 inches away.

    For a as new perfect job then yes, strip, for a nice clean resto job then polish away.

    Obviously you can't match anodised with bare Ali as one has been anodised but you can polish anything to the finish you want - as above, Solvol is abrasive so it will take the anodised finish off.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • carl1983
    carl1983 Posts: 162
    Thanks for the ideas guys lots to be thinking about.

    I'm not really looking for a mirror finish as such but just something shiny and dare I say near NOS to look at, I may receive the crank and it might be as the guy says "very good condition for the year" And only need a quick clean up ( As if it's ever that easy).

    The logos being kept is the most important thing for me so it seems that will determine how I go ahead with the clean up process.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Worst comes to the worst, you'll be able to get new logos off internet in that backless sticker form.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • JayKosta
    JayKosta Posts: 635
    Don't even consider a bench 'grinder' - perhaps a bench (or flex-shaft) 'buffing wheel' , but you'll have much better control (less possibility of damage and injury) by doing everything by hand.

    Jay Kosta
    Endwell NY USA
  • lapavoni10
    lapavoni10 Posts: 146
    The cotton mops fit straight on the grinder....if its that dangerous, get the kids to do it. :)
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    lapavoni10 wrote:
    The cotton mops fit straight on the grinder....if its that dangerous, get the kids to do it. :)

    Exactly - goes without saying I would have thought, after all the plan is to polish it not grind it.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Just get it re-anodised
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    They all look the same at 90 rpm. Do you want it to look good when ridden or when it's on a stand?