clean/shine aluminum flagpole?

[sgull]

Got a 30' aluminum flag pole at my workplace that needs prettying up. I guess it's "anodized" aluminum, or perhaps "spun" or "brushed" aluminum, and looks to have the very fine brushed or spun looking texture going around its diameter. Anyway, over time and neglect it seems to have a dirty algae type mildew or whatever growth/residue especially down at the lower third that I'd like to get off before trying to shine or buff or whatever it would take to get it looking as shiny and clean as it can get. The whole thing from top to bottom generally looks dull and some blackish tarnish or whatever spots going around up toward the top where the metal clips on the flag rope probably rub around and bang on the pole up there. So I was thinking if at least trying hitting the lower algae-dirty part with a 3200 psi pressure washer to see if I can get that stuff off, and if that doesn't do it figure out how else to scrub it off. Then once I finally get the dirt and algae stuff off, maybe use steel wool I guess and go 'round and 'round with that all the way from top to bottom. My extension ladder has the pole V-type attachment so I can lean use that to climb up there halfway safe-like anyway. Any suggestions/comments on techniques how to do this most effectively/efficiently/properly would be appreciated. Don't have a cherry picker available, or any fancy specialized equipment. Probably gonna involve a lotta elbow grease but the less the better.
Here's a couple pictures, for what they're worth:

 

[kd3pc]

I would start with a 3M pad and go from there.

 

[sgull]

I would start with a 3M pad and go from there.

Green scrubby pad (and elbow grease) before at least trying the pressure washer? The 3M pad would have less tendency to scratch the finish I would hope/suppose, than would steel wool. Yeah okay thanks.

Also, it'd sure be easier to scrub by hand going up and down, instead of 'round and 'round, but I'm afraid that might mar the spun type finish.

 

[doan]

Phosphoric acid (Sold as "Prep & "Etch"). Works great on aluminum. Also some wheel cleaners have acid in them - usually the ones with strong warnings about painted surfaces. Barkeepers friend has oxalic acid - this is also great on all metals.

Even if it wasn't anodized originally, it will self anodize over time. To make it look "new" usually required sanding off the anodization.

For a flag pole, acid plus scotch pad and a pressure washer is probably all you need.

 

[Fretters]

The 3M pad would have less tendency to scratch the finish I would hope/suppose, than would steel wool.

Using wire wool on any non-ferrous is always a bad idea. You only need a few fragments to embed themselves and you then have seemingly rusting metal when it shouldn't.

 

[sgull]

Phosphoric acid (Sold as "Prep & "Etch"). Works great on aluminum.
Even if it wasn't anodized originally, it will self anodize over time. To make it look "new" usually required sanding off the anodization.

For a flag pole, acid plus scotch pad and a pressure washer is probably all you need.

I do happen to have almost a full gallon of the Prep and Etch you mention. And actually I'm just kind of guessing about whether it's anodized aluminum or what that even means. Maybe I should try pressure washing off the encrusted dirt/algea then scrub with a solution of the Prep and Etch using 3M pads?

 

[sgull]

Update: The pressure washer took care of the algae/dirt easily. In considering the Prep & Etch however, the directions don't seem to describe cleaning aluminum as one of it's intended purposes. Stated is: "Prep & Etch actually does the job of three products: (1) it removes rust from iron and steel surfaces and inhibits flash rusting (2) it treats metal surfaces, including galvanized and aluminum, to allow better paint adhesion, and (3) it etches concrete to allow paint or stains to penetrate and adhere."
Well I don't really want to "treat" the aluminum I just want to clean it. So perhaps some wheel cleaner as also suggested. Other suggestions have been pontoon cleaner and even AC coil cleaner. But if the prep & etch should work I'd rather go that route because as mentioned I already have some so wouldn't have to buy any of that other stuff.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... That's spun aluminum,....

It ain't supposed to be shiny,..... just a dull grey,....

 

[sgull]

Ayuh,..... That's spun aluminum,.... It ain't supposed to be shiny,..... just a dull grey,....

Yeah thanks, okay spun aluminum. Didn't expect it to get shiny-shiny, but even after cleaning the surface algae/dirt, it still is rather old dull like rather than new dull like. Probably could make it look newer/nicer if I used the right stuff I think. Plus there's blackish streaks here and there (some kind of tarnishing) that didn't come off with the pressure washer.

 

[sgull]

spray paint might be your frind on this one..

Maybe. I'll keep that in mind. thanks

 

[zkling]

for the chemical method aluminum brightener sold for pontoon/boat and truck applications. As well as the scotch bright if it is heavily corroded in a section. I forget what the designed application is, but they made telescoping poles that have a ~4x6" square mounted on the end with a gimbal. Could probably use that to reach the higher sections you can't get by hand.

 

[sgull]

for the chemical method aluminum brightener sold for pontoon/boat and truck applications. As well as the scotch bright if it is heavily corroded in a section. I forget what the designed application is, but they made telescoping poles that have a ~4x6" square mounted on the end with a gimbal. Could probably use that to reach the higher sections you can't get by hand.

Ok yeah I think that's a better description: brightened. I think the aluminum pole could/should be "brightened" but not necessarily "shined" as per my post title here. I'll probably try some type of chemical method aluminum brightener then. And there really isn't any "corrosion" unless those black marks might be considered corrosion but I'd say there isn't anything resembling any "corrosion" I'm familiar with.

The mentioned gimbal contraption sounds interesting and likely helpful but I doubt I'd ever get my hands on something like that. Anyway I can get most of the way up there on the ladder and the top really isn't that bad compared to the lower two thirds or so.

 

[zkling]

The pole contraption isn't anything special. They sell it at the big box stores I just can't remember what it was specifically used for. Some type of painting with a square sponge.

 

[sgull]

The pole contraption isn't anything special. They sell it at the big box stores I just can't remember what it was specifically used for. Some type of painting with a square sponge.

Hmm well anyway for one thing in my location (small SE Alaska community, relatively isolated) we don't have a big box store. But that's okay I think I can get by without the contraption square sponge painting thingamajig gimbal gizmo I hope.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I want one of these..


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NPI5BTY/?tag=atomicindus08-20


.

 

[Fugio]

Acid wash it.

 

[sgull]

Acid wash it.

Using phosphoric acid I would guess? Need a little more detail, please.

 

[RickP]

You might try a 3M paint stripper for a drill - it's made out of a scotchbrite plastic mesh. It would work similar to a scotchbrite pad, but it'd be a lot faster using the drill. They sell a thinner version in Home Depot, but I'd recommend the thicker version:
http://3mcollision.com/3m-rust-and-paint-stripper-03172-4-inch.html