How to clean aluminium?

[sardine]

Is there an easy way go clean the oxides off aluminium machinery ?

some kind of cleaning fluid ?

 

[Bullet2012]

Not a fluid as such but a hot pressure washer will remove a lot, but probably completely unsuitable for your requirements

 

[Brad93]

AluBrite from Autosmart

Edit: Now called just "Ali"

Seriously corrosive though!
It's hydrofluoric acid and to get it on you is seriously bad news.
Brush on only, rinse off, don't allow to dry.

The do a milder version called AliShine which is 10% hydrochloric acid.
This is the one i've used to good effect but takes a lot of scrubbing.

 

[Gragson]

It's hydrofluoric acid

Is it hydrofluoric or hydrochloric?
When I worked with hydrofluoric baths in a semi conductor plant I had to dress up as a space man, full BA kit the lot. Pretty concentrated tho...

 

[addjunkie]

A magic product called Elbow Grease works!

 

[Agroshield]

Is it hydrofluoric or hydrochloric?

As Brad kindly provided a manufacturer and product name, it is easy to find the SDS and read it:

https://autosmart.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ali-SDS10015-GBR-2.pdf

 

[Bullet2012]

A magic product called Elbow Grease works!

which one ?

Home - Elbow Grease

No.1 Power Degreaser The only cleaner you’ll ever need Elbow Grease® is the truly fantastic No.1 Degreaser for use all around the home. The ultimate power degreasing properties of this cleaner make it the only cleaner you will ever need. The uses are endless! Elbow Grease® cleans pots, pans...

elbowgreasecleans.com

 

[Parm]

Is it hydrofluoric or hydrochloric?
When I worked with hydrofluoric baths in a semi conductor plant I had to dress up as a space man, full BA kit the lot. Pretty concentrated tho...

Hey, HF has an affinity for the calcium in bones. It keeps going

 

[Seadog]

Then it attacks the heart muscles.

 

[Gragson]

Hey, HF has an affinity for the calcium in bones. It keeps going

Hey, HF has an affinity for the calcium in bones. It keeps going

Then it attacks the heart muscles.

Monsanto semi conductor plant near Wolverton, long gone.
The bath process where the wafers went through was automated, but it had to be emptied periodically. Or when something went wrong....
The whole area would be evacuated and we would go in suited up and connect up to empty.

The psychosomatic effect was weird, itching and scratching when clearly nothing had gone wrong with BA or suits.
My mate actually used to have nightmares about it

Anyway, back to wire brushing ali

 

[Brad93]

Is it hydrofluoric or hydrochloric?
When I worked with hydrofluoric baths in a semi conductor plant I had to dress up as a space man, full BA kit the lot. Pretty concentrated tho...

It's hydrofluoric. Nasty nasty stuff

 

[Kram]

Those are cast parts, generally means high silicon and unsuitable for caustic cleaners, as that will turn them dirty black. It may be worth doing a small test with caustic as on suitable grades it will bring them up as new, but unlikely.

Another is just to soak them in diesel a day or week, that worked for several cast alu mitorbike parts that had done 100k miles on the cbr6, they looked like new after.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Before.....

Toothbrush.......

After.....

Ok, it was actually a die grinder and wire brush for the body and vapour blasting for the bell housing.

 

[Melvyn Best]

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

 

[MetalMonkey]

I've found a citric cleaner and scotch brite does a pretty good job. It won't bring it back to new shiny, but can get rid of the muck and some of the staining.

 

[Bullet2012]

From the interweb that knows everything .
Aluminium tends to oxidise as time passes, which results in that dull, chalky look. If you’ve experienced this with your home items, you’re probably wondering how to remove oxidation from aluminium. Fortunately, you can bring back a nice clear appearance with the right know-how – and a popular sauce. Yep, that’s right, you just need to open your kitchen cupboard again and bring out the ketchup – another acidic powerhouse.2- Here’s what you’ll need to learn how to remove aluminium oxide.

• Tomato ketchup
• Soft cloth
• Water
• kitchen paper towels

And here’s how to remove oxidation from aluminium:

1. Cover the item with a thin layer of ketchup.
2. Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
3. Use the soft cloth to rub the aluminium vigorously.
4. Rinse with water straight after (otherwise you might risk spots and streaks).
5. Polish with a piece of kitchen paper to dry it completely and bring out the shine.

 

[Morris]

From the interweb that knows everything .
Aluminium tends to oxidise as time passes, which results in that dull, chalky look. If you’ve experienced this with your home items, you’re probably wondering how to remove oxidation from aluminium. Fortunately, you can bring back a nice clear appearance with the right know-how – and a popular sauce. Yep, that’s right, you just need to open your kitchen cupboard again and bring out the ketchup – another acidic powerhouse.2- Here’s what you’ll need to learn how to remove aluminium oxide.

• Tomato ketchup
• Soft cloth
• Water
• kitchen paper towels

And here’s how to remove oxidation from aluminium:

1. Cover the item with a thin layer of ketchup.
2. Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
3. Use the soft cloth to rub the aluminium vigorously.
4. Rinse with water straight after (otherwise you might risk spots and streaks).
5. Polish with a piece of kitchen paper to dry it completely and bring out the shine.

Then enjoy it smelling like a cheap burger place.

 

[Pete.]

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.

 

[Seadog]

From the interweb that knows everything .
Aluminium tends to oxidise as time passes, which results in that dull, chalky look. If you’ve experienced this with your home items, you’re probably wondering how to remove oxidation from aluminium. Fortunately, you can bring back a nice clear appearance with the right know-how – and a popular sauce. Yep, that’s right, you just need to open your kitchen cupboard again and bring out the ketchup – another acidic powerhouse.2- Here’s what you’ll need to learn how to remove aluminium oxide.

• Tomato ketchup
• Soft cloth
• Water
• kitchen paper towels

And here’s how to remove oxidation from aluminium:

1. Cover the item with a thin layer of ketchup.
2. Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
3. Use the soft cloth to rub the aluminium vigorously.
4. Rinse with water straight after (otherwise you might risk spots and streaks).
5. Polish with a piece of kitchen paper to dry it completely and bring out the shine.

I assume that the active ingredient in tomato sauce is vinegar (acetic acid).

 

[selectedgrub]

Tomato sauce also uses over ripe tomatos which are higher in oxalic acid.