Hey Rawja about your dash.

[Guest Durahansolo]

I was looking at your dash in your avatar, do you have any better pictures of your dash and what did you do to it? I have some carbon fiber i was looking to cover my dash and console with.

[Rawja]

I've searched and searched for the detailed instructions I had posted back in '04 but I'm unable to locate.

Here's the original post where I was showing it off:

http://forums.aaca.org/f116/screw-woodgrain-check-out-185257.html

I used anodizing remover, others have reported sucess with oven cleaner.

I cna retype instructions, just not now as I'm late for work. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Edited April 24, 2012 by Rawja
fixed link (see edit history)

[Guest Durahansolo]

ahhhh thanks.

[Rawja]

Pretty simple really, I removed the trim pieces and hit 'em up with anodize remover, available here: Blue Lightning

If you go with the product I used, you'll need to buy the gallon container, it's more than you'll need but the smaller size they sell is less than you'll need.

I didn't remove the plastic backing plates from the aluminum trim and that was a mistake.

The anodize remover sorta bleaches/ages the plastic that it comes into contact with, so remove from backing plates in any case where the plastic is going to be exposed to the remover. The chromed handle to the lid of the ashtray does not react with the remover, so you don't have to worry about that, but air vents, screen vent, shifter opening and the ashtray area should all be removed or protected from the chemical.

Be very gentle with the trim plates once removed from their backers they are very easy to inadvertently torque them out of shape when handling.

I did all the work over an old porcelain sink. It was pretty messy. I found that a filled bathtub was a good place to end the chemical reaction by dunking the piece under the water and gently rub it while submerged to remove the foaming reaction.

Followed it all up with aluminum polish bought from the same site.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Wear gloves.</span> Or you'll be sorry (I was).

Obviously, if 99 cent oven cleaner will work, by all means go with that. I had no idea that that would work at the time I did this to my car. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Removing the anodizing makes the pieces much more scratch-prone and they do tarninsh modestly, but even now two years later I don't regret doing it one bit, as a matter of fact, whenever I see black trimmed Reattas, they look "wrong" to me now. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Edited April 24, 2012 by Rawja
Fixed pics. (see edit history)

[manikmekanik]

The aluminum looks really "trick", Rawja!

...one could apply a transluscent coating, (paint, dykum), to get a "candy" color dash to complement the exterior, or interior.

[juddev]

I like it too!

[Rawja]

Bumped thread by request.