I've got a black anodised stem on a Lefty fork which I'd like to polish up to a shiny bare metal finish to match the fork. Any other fork and I'd just buy another stem but polished Lefty compatible stems are pricey and are rare as hens teeth. Can anyone recommend a way of shifting the black anodising and achieving a good quality polished finish?
does it have a rough surface? ie shot peened? If so you may need to get it sand blasted but make sure they don't blast the inside of the clamp areas and the threads - ie clamp something in the stem and bar bits.
Failing that there may be a chemical method - i am thinking caustic soda.
If its machined/smooth finish then lots of elbow work polishing it! Maybe get a flappy wheel on a drill.
I used some drain cleaner mixed with water, only took a couple of minutes to take the anodizing off. Then I started with emery paper and scotchbrite to polish but got bored pretty quickly. I now have a dull silver on one twelfty post in the shed.
Oven cleaner works very well.
joolsburger - MemberOven cleaner works very well.
Seconded on the oven cleaner. Drain cleaner is too strong and make sure you wash out the inner part of the rim as if you leave it in there it will eventually eat the rim
It will take a while as a rim is probably hard anodised