[CR]Horrible black stains on my brake calipers!

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

From: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 10:14:39 -0400
Thread-Index: Acaxhv7c/P18UtbUT6WCD6SH7jrqoQ==
Subject: [CR]Horrible black stains on my brake calipers!

Yesterday evening I set a really filthy pair of old Record Calipers in a plastic container filled with hot water and a couple of household grease cutting detergents to soak. I checked them later and they were coming along just fine...so I thought. I figured that I would just leave them over night and finish them up in the morning. To my horror, this morning they had ugly black stains all over the aluminum arms and these stains are very persistent. They will come off (mostly ) with the application of some 0000 steel wool, but so does the anodizing beneath the stain. I suppose I could take all the anodizing off to produce an even finish (is there an easier way than Easy Off Oven Cleaner?) but I sure would like to figure out a way to make the black stain disappear. Anyone out there got any experience or suggestions for dealing with this
problem?
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi USA