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27-05-2013, 12:33am
Hi Dan,
Elbow grease. There is no magic solution. Believe me, I've tried for decades. I use a wide selection of brushes (tooth, paint, stipple (cut down paint brushes), wire), scouring pads, pipe cleaners, bottle cleaners, wire buffing wheels, little picks, modified screwdrivers, copper scrapers, etc to mechanically clean aluminium cases/heads/barrels/covers, etc. usually with kero or turps. Sometimes I use cheap degreasers but I find the quality varies and sometimes the pricks add caustic without saying so. Leaves cast aluminium looking grey. Then I use dishwashing detergent with hot water followed by a thorough rinse with rainwater. Then I use old towels to soak up the bulk of the water, followed by a good send off with compressed air and some time in the WA sun to leave it bone dry. If there's steel involved I usually give a light spray with kero or WD40 if I'm feeling exceptionally well-off (that's not often).
That will get it looking spanky.
Most other techniques used these days don't get the aluminium looking anywhere near as good as my thorough scrubbing sessions. Not unless you invest in a big ultrasonic cleaner. But then they lack the personal touch.
Camel
Elbow grease. There is no magic solution. Believe me, I've tried for decades. I use a wide selection of brushes (tooth, paint, stipple (cut down paint brushes), wire), scouring pads, pipe cleaners, bottle cleaners, wire buffing wheels, little picks, modified screwdrivers, copper scrapers, etc to mechanically clean aluminium cases/heads/barrels/covers, etc. usually with kero or turps. Sometimes I use cheap degreasers but I find the quality varies and sometimes the pricks add caustic without saying so. Leaves cast aluminium looking grey. Then I use dishwashing detergent with hot water followed by a thorough rinse with rainwater. Then I use old towels to soak up the bulk of the water, followed by a good send off with compressed air and some time in the WA sun to leave it bone dry. If there's steel involved I usually give a light spray with kero or WD40 if I'm feeling exceptionally well-off (that's not often).
That will get it looking spanky.
Most other techniques used these days don't get the aluminium looking anywhere near as good as my thorough scrubbing sessions. Not unless you invest in a big ultrasonic cleaner. But then they lack the personal touch.
Camel