Summary for aluminum oxidation remover Discussion
Aluminum oxidation remover/cleaner is the core issue across several related questions about whitish, grey, or brown deposits, water spots, and dull patches on aluminum surfaces. In the original question, Pat Perry described deposits on alclad aluminum sheets that reacted only slightly to Alumiprep 33 and turned white with Casite "Rust Out," but still required hard scuffing to remove. Tom Pullizzi cautioned that, without knowing the exact corrosion, the proprietary products involved, or what finish would follow cleaning, it was not possible to recommend a specific process such as electroclean or bright dip. Other posters asked about water spots on an aluminum toolbox, oxidation on step-van interior walls, and seized aluminum carburetors; Ted Mooney advised searching the archive for the carburetor topic and noted that some questions need more context before a safe recommendation can be made. The thread overall suggests that the right cleaner depends heavily on the alloy, contamination, and intended post-cleaning use.
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 [affil link] . 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
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 Wiggins
2000
A. Ricky,
Sorry, but it may not be practical to remove those stains. If the toolbox is anodized aluminum, under a microscope that coating looks like a honeycomb. If it was not properly sealed, and a stain is down in those “honey chambers”, you just can’t get to it short of 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
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
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 [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
– Watson Lake, Yukon, Canada
2001
This is a meeting place for camaraderie & sharing, not a free consultancy. So some readers don’t engage with anonymous posters.
A. Hi John,
Please plug “aluminum carburetor” into the search engine because this topic has been discussed a good number of times. Threads 459/15 and 337/79 are probably the two most applicable discussions.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
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? ⇦ Answer?
Manikandan
aluminium – Coimbatore, T.N, India
2007
This is a meeting place for camaraderie & sharing, not a free consultancy. So some readers don’t engage with anonymous posters.