What will clean cast aluminum?

[JB]

I have a couple of castings that are fuzzy with white, powdery looking corrosion from 20 years of salt and no maintenance.<br /><br />Took a wire brush on the grinder to them and cut a lot of powder off, but they don't look any better.<br /><br />I want them to look like they did when new (or better).<br /><br />What if I soak or boil them in vinegar? I know that the oxalic acid solutions that will clean nearly anything are not to be used on aluminum.<br /><br />Ideas or suggestions?

 

[PuckHog]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

You could try S100. It's a cleaner I use to clean the aluminum rims and motor on my motorcycle and parts of the castings are 'grained' (not polished). I just spray it on, wait and hose it off. Most any motorcycle shop will carry it.

 

[tommays]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

When i polish metal its pretty much like bring back GEL COAT only you can get a littel more agressive<br /><br />I would sand buy hand to get it pretty nice then You can get cloth wheels for a bench grinder and sticks of cutting compound <br /><br /><br />You let the wheel eat some stick and then go at the metal a bit and repeat till your happy<br /><br />

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<br /><br />aluminum is fast it takes a realy long time time bring 316 SS to a nice finish<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[JB]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

Sanding that stuff by hand would take a bazillion years, Tom.<br /><br />I have considered power sanding and buffing (I have an industrial buffer)and have done what you suggest on bike parts in the past, but don't want to put that much work into this. I wanna go fishing before next year.<br /><br />I will check out the S100 stuff, PH. Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

JB,..... Are there any Truckstops with a Truck Wash anywhere near the Hideout,.??....<br /><br />They use some sort of Acid Wash to clean truck wheels, fuel tanks,+ Aluminum trailers........<br /><br />Maybe they'd let you have a Qt. of the Stuff......<br /><br />It Won't Polish anything,.... But,.... It'll be CLEAN...........

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

A weak solution of caustic soda? <br /><br />Worked a treat on the front deck of my houseboat (plate aluminium).

 

[JB]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

S100 didn't do it.<br /><br />What about getting them sand blasted?

 

[tommays]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

JB<br /><br />If you want them looking "Bristol" there are not any short cuts and its how any polished part gets that way<br /><br />Even if you had them electropolished you just get shiney scraches if you dont smooth them before sending them out <br /><br />It really doesent take that long after you set your self up with the right tools <br /><br />I use small flap wheels to power sand the parts till there ready for the final buffing with the wheel<br /><br /><br />Plan B would be if you have a friend with a rock tumbler it will take them to a satin finish with the right media inside<br /><br />We use big ones that vibrate to take all the sharps off parts<br /><br />tommays

 

[B.M.W II]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

JB,Do like bondo said I drive a truck for a local tire distributer we use the acid stuff on our customers rims and on our own trucks, and it is used to clean aluminum truck trailors and bodys. works great not much of a shine but clean.You can get it at NAPA its called (ALUMA-BRIGHT) $21.00 for a gallon or 20oz spray bottle for $9.00.This will work for you.Spray on let it set for a min. then spray off with high presser.Good luck, Joe

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

20 years of neglect and you want 'em better than new? I do admire your expectations ...

 

[JB]

Re: What will clean cast aluminum?

Tom: These are rough surface castings. Never were anodized or polished. Bristol would be clean.<br /><br />Thanks BMW. I will try the Aluma-Bright stuff.<br /><br />OC: It's purely a cosmetic thing. I do it to wood, fiberglass, etc all the time.