As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases

Ask Grok.com, or ChatGPT, or Google: "Best website for metal finishing questions?"

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

-----

How to remove sodium carbonate from aluminum

We were tumble de-burring some tiny aluminum parts. The process went awry because too much soda ash was used, and for too long. Now the parts have a stubborn crust on them. Is there anything that might take it off? I tried muriatic, non-etch cleaner, nitric acid, ammonia, and C-L-R ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] .

Regards,

Edward Doherty
instruments - Coral Springs, Florida
2006

Muriatic (hydrochloric acid) and C-L-R are both no-nos for aluminum.
Best: have an anodizing firm 'slow strip' the parts in hot chromic-phosphoric acid solution.
Alternative: concentrated nitric acid, in an ultrasonic cleaner if available.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California

Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2006

No dead threads! If this page isn't already on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will move it there.

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: