Need suggestion for black mark removal on aluminum

[jakester888]

I purchased a minor upgrade from FFR which is the aluminum top with pre-cut hole and top cover for easy access to the footbox for pedal assembly maintenance.

Wouldn't you know it, the aluminum shipped with the black stamped roll-markings prominently displayed on the top cover. Since I am planning on leaving the engine bay aluminum, I need a suggestion for removing the black marks from aluminum.

I did try my trusty dremel with soft buffer head extension and engine degreaser - which worked for one small section at the expense of the buffer head. But this is not practical for multiple large sections.

What's your trick for removing black marks on aluminum?

36371 36370

[Olli]

Lacquer thinner or acetone works for me.


Olli

[Jeff Kleiner]

X2


Jeff

[edwardb]

X3. Lacquer thinner should do it. You may have to get it pretty wet and wipe a few times but it should come off. That's normal ink marking from the mfg of the aluminum.

[CHOTIS BILL]

I have found that most of the markings will come off with solvent some will come off with water. If the aluminum has oxidized any then after the markings are removed you can still see unoxidized aluminum in the shape of the markings. You can use a fine Scotch Brite pad to blend the surface into an uniform grained surface.

Bill Lomenick

[CDXXVII]

I have used denatured alcohol. Available at any paint store. No residue.

[FMJ]

Brake cleaner works great.

[smithbks]

X4 on lacquer thinner. I found acetone worked too but reuired more vigorous rubbing. Lacquer thinner just wiped it right off.

[FritoBandito]

One of the things I've learned though my build is that ink often has a protective effect on the aluminum underneath it. The irony is that you'll clean off the ink with your solvent of choice (mine is denatured alcohol) only to find the text is still perfectly readable in the lovely shiny uncorroded aluminum the ink leaves behind. Probably have to do some polishing to get things to match up at that point.

Mario

[rich grsc]

Nothing works faster than acetone, use it to remove black Sharpie layout lines as well.

[68GT500MAN]

I have used WD-40 to remove the ink.
Doug