How to clean aluminium?

[Robotstar5]

Dry ice blasting? I’ve never used it by have recently seen several videos that look like good results. Has anyone on here any experience of it? Or any idea of cost? Just google local dry ice blasting

We used to get our welding fixtures cleaned with dry ice blasting, word of warning, it's VERY loud, we had to wear hearing protection anywhere on the factory floor while it was been done.

 

[Munkul]

Dry ice blasting? I’ve never used it by have recently seen several videos that look like good results. Has anyone on here any experience of it? Or any idea of cost? Just google local dry ice blasting

dry ice works great, removes some very stubborn residues, but needs specialist equipment to do it. We used to get contractors in to blast our packaging film mill rolls, and also blast lacquer residues from tanks, and a few other jobs besides.
It's great because it's very gentle on the metal underneath paint etc.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I found oven cleaner that label stated "not suitable for aluminium" worked great as long as only left on for a couple of minutes then pressure washed off

 

[brightspark]

I'd have to check but Im sure that my drum of TFR says that it can be used to remove the oxides from aluminium.

use it neat with a scrubbing brush and it takes your skin off if you dont wear gloves and it certainly softens your paint

 

[Keithmac]

Scotchbrite and elbow grease can take all the corrosion off but it's labour intensive.