Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
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Aluminum oxidation remover/cleaner?
Q. I have a film of whitish/grey/brown deposits on sheets of alclad aluminum. I'm not sure if it is oxidation or deposits from damp storage in contact with paper (between the sheets to "protect" the surfaces). There is very little reaction to Alumiprep 33 [on eBay or Amazon]. The only thing that seems to have any reaction with this is Casite "Rust Out" - it turns it white but it still won't come off without hard scuffing. There is no info on the "Rust Out" label stating its chemical make-up so I'm afraid of using it on all of the sheets and it still requires a healthy amount of abrasive scrubbing. Any suggestions?
Pat Perry- Dallas, Pennsylvania
1999
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Ed. note: Sorry, we do not find "Casite Rust Out" anywhere on the internet. There is a Casite "Rust Penetrator & Lubricating Oil".
A. Unless someone has used the two proprietary products you mentioned, we cannot comment on the results, or even get some feel for the corrosion you are trying to remove. We also need more information on what you are doing with the sheets after you clean them... Are you then painting or plating them, or using them as is? We also do not know the capabilities of your shop/work area. So we are loathe to suggest "electroclean" or "bright dip" or some other answer which you may not be able to perform, anyway.
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
1999
Q. I HAVE AN ALUMINUM TOOL BOX - 1 MONTH OLD- IT ALREADY HAS WATER SPOTS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED! WE HAVE TRIED Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish, AND METAL MAGIC, IT MAKES IT SHINE BUT THE WATER SPOTS ARE STILL THERE... ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO USE? THANK YOU.
RICKY VERRET- NEW IBERIA, Louisiana
2001
Q. One more aluminum question. I have a step van (like a UPS or FedEx Truck). It is all aluminum walls on the interior. The walls show some where and oxidation. What can I use to renew an almost new finish. The interior of the step van will be used to process perishable foods. Thanks for your help. Douglas
Douglas Wiggins2000
A. Ricky,
Sorry, but it may not be practical to remove those stains. If the toolbox is anodized aluminum, that coating looks like a honeycomb. If it was not properly sealed, and a stain is down in that those "honey chambers", you just can't get to it short of completely stripping the anodizing.
A. Douglas,
Despite Ricky's limited success, polishing with Mothers is probably the way to go. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. I have an old boat that has been sitting dormant for several years. One of the aluminum carburetors has seized up. Is there anything I can soak it in to get rid of the oxidation? I have soaked it in a pretty powerful carburetor solution but, even though it worked for one of the carbs it did not work for this one.
John V [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada
2001
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Hi John,
Please plug "aluminum carburetor" into the search engine because this topic has been discussed a good number of times. Letters 45915 and 25402 are probably the two most applicable discussions.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. We Manufacture aluminium castings. We found one item with some white dull colour patches all over the surface of the castings.
Our manufacturing qnty is 500.
Defective qnty is 20.
So far we are not in a position to come to a conclusion.
Can you help me?
aluminium - Coimbatore, T.N, India
2007
Ed. note: Welcome! and please feel free to read everything here anonymously; we have a great search engine for that ...
But this isn't a consulting service -- it's a community with a 30-year legacy of aloha incompatible with anonymity; please don't post without your real name :-)
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