TR4/4A Cleaning of alloy parts

[eyesie]

Whenever I get a rebuilt part, it always amazes me how clean they get the alloy I found this link that shows the process. Simple & fascinating. Be careful & remember the safety gear.
If this has been posted previously, I apologize, but for those of us looking, it is invaluable.

Alan

https://www.clubgti.com/showthread.php?217675-Chemical-cleaning-of-alloy-parts

 

[2long]

I bought an "Offenhauser" ally valve cover that was supposed to have come from a new run using the original mold or tooling or whatever. I stored the part for a few years and now it has developed a few little "warts" that look like tiny raised hard blemishes. Does anyone know what this might be or whether it can be returned to a nice polished finish? I never installed it but thought it was a neat piece of bling to tuck away.

Dan

 

[martx-5]

I've been in the rebuilding industry for almost 40 years, and we never used those chemicals to clean aluminum. First the parts are degreased using either hot water/soap solutions, or mineral spirits. In both cases machines did the work, but mineral spirits will work fine with a bucket and brush. After that, we would either shot blast or glass bead to rid the part of any discoloration and bring back the aluminum to it's more natural color.

At home, after cleaning with mineral spirits, I've used steel wood pads with the soap in them, scrubbed and washed off the part thoroughly and have gotten all the aluminum parts to look clean and natural.

Those caustic chemicals are unnecessary and dangerous.

See the pic below. I did the SUs, intake manifold and thermostat housing using the mineral spirits and steel wool pads. It may be a bit more more on work dirtier and more complicated pieces, but it will get the job done. Another way after degreasing would be to get a glass bead cabinet, which would also work great getting the rust off of steel parts.

 

[Don_R]

Art,
I'm in the ordnance industry and we use caustic cleaners and nitric acid for cleaning forged aluminum all the time.. the parts look clean and bright when we finish cleaning them, not like shown in the video.

 

[Darrell_Walker]

I just picked up some "Mac's Aluminum Brightener" from NAPA:

https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=MCR1458_0075100080

I've only used it on the bell housing on my TR8 so far, but it did a great job on it.