I have this Vostro light and ever since I have it, it just stayed in its original box after testing the switch, its functions and some white-wall shots, all 30 seconds of it.
Then the other day I took it out of the box just to take another look at it and noticed this blot of dark marks as shown in the photos below.
I tried wiping it with different kinds of cloth, moist chamois and even have it took a fresh water bath with a little soap to no avail.
I am even thinking of sanding off the anodization and having it sprayed with a top coat clear automotive finish if nothing works.
What do you think happened, what caused it and how can I remove it? Any suggestion/s?
Thats not good at all. It appears to me that maybe the surface had contamination on it before anodizing or it has oil stains on it. Possibly reacted with something after delivery. Crappy anodizing?
Looks like some sort of surface contaminant (not a sub-surface defect) to me. If it wasn’t there before, something must have come in contact with it (grease/oil/sweat?) before putting it back in the box. Before resorting to sanding/stripping the anodizing, you might try using something a bit more aggressive than soap/water first (IPA or acetone and a soft-bristle brush, etc.).
I’d not be using that same box for storage again either.
It has been inside its original box and I’m sure it was not there before nor have it accidentally contaminated with grease, though it sure look a like a grease contamination. I will try to experiment with some more cleaning materials.
I find it very strange indeed…
Anyway, I would like to make it look different after reading those ‘clear finish’ lights. How do I strip the anodization, use sand paper? If so, what grit and how I go about it?
You need a strong Base, opposite of Acid, to remove anodisation.
Oven cleaner contains Lye or Sodium Hydroxide. I have powdered Sodium Hydroxide and it works very well. Mix it with Warm Water maybe a Teaspoon per Quart. Not strong enough, ad 1/4 tsp more at a time. You can store the solution in Glass jar for reuse. I heat it in microwave for a minute or 3… till Warm. WEAR GLOVES and EYE Protection. Do not get it on anything you do not want destroyed. Keep cold water handy to quench and clean after. Use detergent or dish soap and a brush for final cleaning. Make sure it’s clean so there is no further corrosion down the road.
Bleach is also a Base. I have not tried it but will in future.
Some Industrial Purple cleaners are also strong base undiluted. Zep is available at local home stores around here and I have had it remove some color on an anodised part before, but it wasn’t a flashlight finish.
You will need to take the light completely apart to soak it.
I’m not sure. If the printing is only etched into the anodizing then I’d say yes it will remove it. You could possibly seal the etching it but I dont know with what.
Are you sure you did not smear some lube of the threads, when you opened it to put in the batteries?
The anodizing looks a bit “dull” like that of a Thorfire, where even fingerprints can make stains.
In that case I use a cloth with some “spiritus” (Dutch word for it), which is mainly (85–95) ethanol plus some methanol to prevent it from being used as a beverage. It is certainly not as aggressive as acetone.
Try 90+% rubbing alcohol. I have a light that does the same thing from skin oil when handling, and from silicon thread lube. Strange but true. The alcohol removes it well.
I have just tried your suggestion. I have only 70% isopropyl alcohol on hand and it removed about 65 to 70% of the dark spot. I used it with a flannel cloth, rubbed vigorously several time till it squeaks, 4x.
I wonder how it got there randomly in the first place, even at the edges of the bezel. Yes, I use Superlube grease but I’m always careful with it. I never touch the grease with my fingers. I always use a cotton bud, roll a little of it on the grease, then put it in the inside of the female part, the area where the O-ring touches, and very little on the the threads, then throw away the cotton bud stick.
About the possibility of skin oil, it also possible but if you check the randomness of the dark spots, the size of the spots, I don’t think it came from it.
