Removing Russell color?

Madmiles442 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 10:13 AM

Has anyone ever (purposefully) removed the color from Russell braided line ends? I'm trying to get the red/blue out of my engine compartment and just have the raw aluminum silver color. Still shiny would be preferred (not the brushed look)
Brake cleaner? 0000 steel wool?
Thanks.

RodgerH · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 10:42 AM

That red/blue color is applied through an electrolytic process called anodizing. It also creates a corrosion and wear resistant surface layer.

It can be removed with Easy Off Oven Cleaner, or Crystal Drano dissolved in hot water. Either is very corrosive

BE SURE TO WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!

Something to think about... After the anodizing is removed the pieces will have no corrosion resistance. You should have them clear powdercoated or you will forever be polishing them.

Personally I like the colored fittings.

Rodger

RodgerH · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 10:51 AM

Looks like Summit carries the Russell aluminum fittings with a nickel finish.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

Rodger

RedBarchetta · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 01:06 PM

Rodger, I'm with you (prefer blue/red...call us old farts), but I think Miles is looking to work with his existing fittings and not shell out big bucks for new ones. I recently replaced an oil line fitting...I think I'll spray some oven cleaner on the old piece this weekend just to see what happens.

Actually, I think Miles is just trying to match that alloy/titanium look of his new hip!

-Dean

CHRIS DAMSCH · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 02:23 PM

I had my spinners anodized on my spf for a year. I used Easy off Oven Cleaner to remove it. Very corrosive. Be careful.

CD.

Madmiles442 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 06:27 PM

Yea, since my fancy new hip is silver, I'm thinking EVERYTHING should be silver.

I've always liked the red/blue/stainless look. Looks like a "racecar" should look.
Nah, I'm just thinking of an underhood makeover. I'm planning on the black finned Cobra valve covers and air cleaner. To take that one step further, kinda get most everything in there either black or silver, if there's a do-it-yourselfer kind of way to do so.
I've seen the nickel ones at Summit and Jegs, of course they're more expensive than the red/blue. Figures.

I started taking an inventory of all the fittings and making a parts list. That was about the time Amy walked in, "Hi honey, whatcha doin?" Hence the post...

They're aluminum, so once bare and polished, they should be relatively care free, right?

61 ACE · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 06:28 PM

make sure the oven cleaner wont eat the seals in the fittings

GT350Mike · #8 (**permalink**) 04-28-2014, 06:19 PM

This is a old post but thought I'd chime in with what I did this weekend. My oil & water temp gauges came with the 5/8" unf blue anodized sets inside a 1/2" NPT adapter. I didn't care for the blue so I used Easy Off to remove the blue. Before I brushed on the cleaner, I taped off the capillary to prevent any damage. The cleaner works really fast so don't make sure not to leave it on more than 30 seconds. As you can see, The upper fitting looked good after the first application but needed a second pass to clean the threads. The lower fitting is the "before" treatment. Overall I'm very pleased with the oven cleaner and glad I didn't have to go to the back-up plan of using steel wool.