[ARC5] Cleaning and "polishing" aluminum...

Wed, 26 Jun 2002 18:32:53 -0400

Sounds like a job for "Naval Jelly".  Invented during WW2 for that purpose
and sold after the war to clean aluminum doors. If you use that stuff or
anything like it, - do it outdoors or in a well ventilated situation - as it
will leave you with rotten headache if you breath any of the fumes.

Taigh Ramey wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Please be careful about using steel wool on any aluminum parts. I have
> learned the hard way that when you use steel wool it will leave tiny
> particles of the wool in the pores and pits of the aluminum. Over time
> (a shorter amount of time than you might think) the steel will react
> with the aluminum. The particles will act like anodes and will cause
> dissimilar metal corrosion.
>
> I tested this on the skin of a Beechcraft AT-11 and I was amazed just
> how fast the pitting showed up.
>
> We use 3M Scotchbrite products for aircraft work. The plastic media
> doesn't leave anything behind to hurt the metal. Scotchbrite comes in
> many different forms and abrasive strengths. The one I prefer to use are
> the Roloc wheels. You can purchase a starter kit that has a range of
> discs and mandrels. You can put the mandrel into any electric or
> pneumatic rotary tool that has a 1/4 inch chuck.
>
> The problem that I see with cleaning a cover of a 274N radio would be
> the final finish. To get the pits clean you usually need to remove a
> fair amount of metal. The problem is how to restore a factory finish.
> The radio wasn't polished at the factory but that is what you are going
> to have to do to remove the swirl and abrasive marks left from the
> mechanical cleaning process.
>
> There are Phosphorus based cleaning and etching solutions that will kill
> the corrosion and generally brighten the surface but they don't remove
> the pits they just clean them.
>
> I probably created more questions than I answered. I just wanted to warn
> everyone about the use of steel wool. In the long run it will do more
> harm than good.
>
> Good luck
>
>
> Taigh Ramey
>
> VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
> 7432 C.E. Dixon Street
> Stockton, California 95206
> 209 982 0273 Hangar
> 209 982 4832 Fax
> www.twinbeech.com
> KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
> Behalf Of Kenneth G. Gordon
> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 8:29 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: [email protected]
> Subject: [ARC5] Cleaning and "polishing" aluminum...
>
> I want to clean up some really dirty BC-454/455 receivers, the all
> aluminum ones. Very fine steel-wool and lots of elbow grease do a
> good job, but I am getting really short in the elbow grease
> department what with my Rheumatoid Arthritis and all.
>
> Is there some easier, better way to accomplish the same thing?
> Buffing wheel and compound or some such? I tried using a cotton
> buffing wheel and rouge, but that didn't cut the surface oxidation.
>
> Suggestions from the collective wisdom gladly accepted...and
> acted upon.
>
> Ken Gordon W7EKB
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>
> Taigh Ramey
>
> VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
> 7432 C.E. Dixon Street
> Stockton, California 95206
> 209 982 0273 Hangar
> 209 982 4832 Fax
> www.twinbeech.com
> KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY
>
>
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