removing oxidation from aluminum?

[emeraldcoupe]

what's the best way to remove the powdery oxidation from aluminum parts, like intakes, water pumps,etc? i don't want to send them out, i'd like to do this at home. i don't have a blast cabinet.

 

[jabberwoki]

I've been told muriatic acid although i don`t know what dilution. Do you have a sacrificial lamb to try it on?

 

[Gamble]

Acetone and a wire brush? I usually just wipe down aluminum with a rag with acetone and start welding and have no problems.

Now if it's anodized that is a whole other problem.


And intakes and water pumps are going to be cast aluminum. You should bake them in an oven at 450* for an hour then take them out and wire brush and acetone the **** out of it. If you plan on welding it.

I'm also pretty sure the oxidation layer will come back by itself in as little as 30seconds (according to jody at weldingtipsandtricks.com IIRC)

 

[emeraldcoupe]

nothing to try the acid on.

i'm not welding on any of it, just trying to clean them up. old weiand intake and an aluminum water pump for my 302.

 

[Dara]

i tend to wire brush them if they're really bad or wire wool an some wd40 or gt85 if you jus wana clean them up nice

 

[Gamble]

^Wire wheel will clean them up and make them look shiny. Hard to get it all even. Or polish it?

 

[Big-Foot]

Mag Wheel cleaner... Look for the stuff that's for un-coated wheels... Be careful around painted surfaces though...

 

[emeraldcoupe]

thanks for the info guys

 

[mayday0017]

If you want a factory finish, walnut media... All acids or any chemical on the market will all have some negative effects which range from who cares to eats right through it. Personally use glass media or walnut depending on the finish I want and then protect the surface from future occurances when possible.

 

[EvilWelder]

Scotch Brite on a whizzer or a bristle disc.

 

[jetmech09]

Scotch Brite. Red or Blue. I would try by hand first. A thin layer of oxidation will come back almost instantly, depending on what alloy of aluminum it is. Generally though, with aluminum, the surface will oxidize and it shouldn't penetrate any deeper (again depending on the alloy).

 

[fergus]

Try soda blasting? Homemade soda blaster...

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

I tried it. Shined up badly oxidized paint with my puny compressor. Needs a lot of CFM I think.

 

[machine_punk]

3M surface conditioning disc (2" or 3") on a 90-degree, pneumatic, die grinder. Gray or blue disc.

It'll reoxidize almost immediately, but will look better.

M_P

 

[thruthefence]

http://www.chemical-supermarket.com/product.php?productid=365

Alumiprep 33.

You can get it from aircraft spruce & specialty.

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, & be sure & rinse well to neutralize.

 

[Daves69]

Mag Wheel cleaner... Look for the stuff that's for un-coated wheels... Be careful around painted surfaces though...

X2 on the mag wheel acid.

 

[RobSmith]

Septone brand...'AllyBrite' brush it on hose it off. Too easy