Cleaning aluminium

[DaveW]

Gents...(and ladies)

Does anybody know a good way of cleaning up grubby aluminum and particularly an aluminum diff casting which looks a bit "salty".

Didnt want to polish or paint, except maybe a clear coat to preserve, but may be sand blast to get an even look, wouldn't mind clear anodizing but maybe a bit extreme, got some clear anodized bits on some rc cars which look great.

also....
I now know, that washing parts in the dish washer is not allowed and have promised not to do it again...while she is at at home.
The alloy parts come out black, something to do with the caustic in dish washing powder i think. the dish washer stainless inner is now gold passivated looking,not sure why, but my lower suspension arms came out like new though.

Dave

[strida]

Dave, Dave, Dave,
or was it David, David, David
and "the look" did you get "the look"
you need to ask Beejay about wife dollars

[DaveW]

Na, it was more more like "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAVID....DA.......ARGH"
I heard it from the shed, which is significantly away from the house, and where i will probably be calling home shortly.

[Mac VABCH]

David,

Check this product out i haven't used it yet but it looks promising.
http://www.sharkhide.com/

[Gav]

Dave, buy a blast cabinet from Radum.
I bought one recently for $360, plus the blast medium.
Clear coat once blasted.

You may even get a root again if you stay clear of the dish washer

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by Gav

Dave, buy a blast cabinet from Radum.
I bought one recently for $360, plus the blast medium.
Clear coat once blasted.

You may even get a root again if you stay clear of the dish washer

hahahahahaha
ah you crack me up

[AC-460]

I have just recently bought a product called Ally Brite.....I used it for cleaning a 34x5 semi tipping trailer .....it revived it back to new.. I had some left over so I used it on the 290 Boss and 6 speed Tremec going into the DRB 540.... Its an acid it sizzles and carries on ...I done it 3-4 times and it looks brand knew

[G6ETURBO]

I'll vouch for Ally Brite. I've used it on old AC evaporators before the hydropholic process came in. Back when I was a boy.

[DaveW]

Thanks guys, i saw Ally Brite on the shelf at the bolt bloke and wasnt sure if it was any good, i'll try it out and put some before and after shots on here.

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by Gav

Dave, buy a blast cabinet from Radum.
I bought one recently for $360, plus the blast medium.
Clear coat once blasted.

You may even get a root again if you stay clear of the dish washer

Now that is going to depend on how long he's been married, and how long he is !

[DaveW]

Gav,
Which size bead did you use, The blast cabinet is about $309 now, with all the bits and pieces ready to go, how well do they do the job ?

[Justin O'Rourke]

This past year I bought a bacon soda blaster and have used it to blast clean motorcycle cases. It works great to get the cases uniformly clean after any grease has been washed off. The blaster cost $99.00 and a 50lb. bag of the bacon soda is about $44.00.

[Rob. Smith]

Originally Posted by G6ETURBO

I'll vouch for Ally Brite. I've used it on old AC evaporators before the hydropholic process came in. Back when I was a boy.

What's the Hydropholic process ? We used Allybrite at work years ago when it was only available through industrial suppliers. For cleaning high voltage busbars in switchyards. The aluminium was terrible but the ally brite brought them up like new mill finish.

[xb-60]

CLR might work OK.
"All care, no responsibility"
Glen