Summary for clean brushed aluminum chairs Discussion
Brushed raw aluminum chairs near the ocean may not have true salt deposits, but rather white aluminum corrosion, according to the answerer. The suggested approach is to try oven cleaner carefully to dissolve the oxidation crust, while wearing chemical goggles and rubber gloves. The corrosion can then be scrubbed or wet-sanded away, followed by a thorough rinse and complete drying. The answerer warns not to leave the cleaner on too long, or the brushed finish may be damaged. Once cleaned, the chairs can be clearcoated to help protect the raw aluminum. The advice is cautious because the metal is uncoated and the finish is brushed, so aggressive cleaning could alter the appearance.
Q. I have Brushed aluminum ladder-back dining room chairs that have been in an outside porch. As the location is near the ocean they have salt deposits and a bit of pitting. How do I clean them and seal or protect them? Thanks.
Joey
Joey Ziff
– Santa Barbara, California USA
July 20, 2017
Hi Joey. I doubt that the ‘salt deposits’ are salt deposits; they’re probably corrosion of the aluminum (aluminum doesn’t rust like steel, it gets those tiny white volcanos of corrosion). It’s possible that oven cleaner
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] will dissolve that corrosion without too much attack on the raw aluminum…
Wearing chemical goggles (not safety glasses) and rubber gloves, you can try to dissolve that oxidation crust and scrub or wet sand it away, then thoroughly rinse it. After it’s dry you can clearcoat it. Obviously, don’t leave the oven cleaner on too long or you’ll lose your brushed look.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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July 2017