Beadblasting Anodized Surface?

[n8marx]

I have searched the archives but have not yet found a definitive answer.

I am contemplating a Fuchs polishing project. My question is whether I can use a beadblaster to remove the anodizing on my Fuchs. I know I could sand it off with a power sander or by hand but since I plan to strip the black paint with the beads anyway why add a step if I don't have to? Could beadblasting remove anodizing? Or should I just plan on Easy-Off oven cleaner?

[Jdub]

You can't be sure that the bead-blasting, should it even penetrate the PorscheCo anodizing, will remove the material evenly. I think you'd have to go to a more aggressive media to remove this stuff, even when softened up with oven cleaner.

The quickest way to remove this stuff is to drop the wheel into a chromer's stripping tank. After hand-sanding one wheel I took my remaining three wheels to a Chrome shop and it was all of three minutes to pull all the anodizing off.

HOWEVER, I cannot say how this effects the wheel itself. Does this weaken it? What changes to the metal may have occured?

Sure was easy though. If you do this, be SURE to police the amount of time the wheel is in there.

John