[Pdubs]

I have 2 questions about stripping an anno and polishing. will the lye & sandpaper method work, and will it damage or allow damage to the aluminum? I've heard that without an anno aluminum can be very "weak" and easily sustain damage

[WKS01]

Removing the ano layer from the aluminum and not protecting with some sort of coating will allow the metal to be damaged. Aluminum is a very soft and when combined with the abuse paintball players put on their gear usually does not end well. Also, trying to remove the ano layer without properly knowing what you are doing can result in pitting of the metal, which may or may not be fixable.

[xsvdynastypballa]

Seems like our ideas are getting somewhere.

Yes aluminum is stupid soft. To give you an idea of how hard ano is.

Aluminum oxide is used as blasting media, Its used on sand paper, Grinding stones. It is harder than steal. The only reason it scratches is because the substrate is so soft and the layer is thin.