How to remove corrosion on alluminium alloy?

[Pesty]

Is there a rust easter type product but for alloys of alluminium?

Cheers

[dilbert]

Strictly speaking, aluminium does not rust. It builds a non-reactive oxide layer which prevents further corrosion.

I accept that this can look somewhat imperfect. Usually it happens when mildly corrosive liquids get trapped between a layer of paint, and the aluminium surface. I think that the corrosive etches the oxide layer and possibly the aluminium leaving nasty looking deposits on the surface.

Abrasives (scotchbrite or sandpaper) are usually the best way to get a "brushed look". Sand or more likely Bead blasting will give more of an eggshell finish.

Then, you can either anodise, or paint the aluminium, or both.

Typically the anodising will give a colour say blue or red, but black and clear and almost any other colour are also possible. The anodising is a controlled corrosion that is smooth, even and looks nice. Often a layer of clear lacquer is added over the top, just to be sure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing

If you really just want to get back to the base metal, with a fluid agent, then strong (industrial) acids/etchants are required. It's not the kind of thing you do on your driveway.

Edited by dilbert on Thursday 1st April 10:48

[Pesty]

dilbert said:

Abrasives (scotchbrite or sandpaper) are usually the best way to get a "brushed look". Sand or more likely Bead blasting will give more of an eggshell finish.

Ok cheers Thats all I nee to know was just hping for a lasy mans brush on liquid and paint over Oh well guess I'll get teh sander out.

Cheers

[Greeny]

Pesty said:

dilbert said:

Abrasives (scotchbrite or sandpaper) are usually the best way to get a "brushed look". Sand or more likely Bead blasting will give more of an eggshell finish.

Ok cheers Thats all I nee to know was just hping for a lasy mans brush on liquid and paint over Oh well guess I'll get teh sander out.

Cheers

The bit about getting the sander out is a joke yes?
What are you actually trying to clean/polish, as in what aluminium part?

Edited by Greeny on Thursday 1st April 19:14

[Pesty]

Was a lazy post seemed quicker than writing sand paper. I don't actually own a sander of any type

[Greeny]

OK but even sandpaper will be too harsh. Can you be more descriptive of what you are trying to achieve?

[Eddie 4.2]

Greeny said:

OK but even sandpaper will be too harsh. Can you be more descriptive of what you are trying to achieve?

[Pesty]

Hi guys thanks for the help.

I was just asking if there was a lazy mans brush on corrosion killer so I can then paint over enough to stop the paint flaking off.

There is not one which is fine

I know how soft alumininium is and will not be going medieval on it with all kinds of harsh abraisives.

[Greeny]

Eddie 4.2 said:

Greeny said:

OK but even sandpaper will be too harsh. Can you be more descriptive of what you are trying to achieve?

[dilbert]

Pesty said:

Hi guys thanks for the help.

I was just asking if there was a lazy mans brush on corrosion killer so I can then paint over enough to stop the paint flaking off.

There is not one which is fine

I know how soft alumininium is and will not be going medieval on it with all kinds of harsh abraisives.

I wouldn't bother with touching up, it's a bit of a waste of effort IMO.

Strip back and start again. I don't know if you've seen how the Yanks strip back their Fuchs? They typically use a paint scraper and a blow torch or aicraft paint stripper. Then it's all kinds of grades of sandpaper, finishing up with T-Cut and jewellers rouge to get a really bonkers shine.

It's not my cup of tea TBH, but the results are outstanding. It takes a heck of a lot of graft though.

If they're painted already, I think most of the quick refurbs do a quick smooth over with sandpaper, perhaps some filler and respray.

In the end this is just one of those things where the result is proportional to the elbow grease.

Edited by dilbert on Saturday 3rd April 00:26

[Pesty]

Hi the front of the wheels are like new, no problems at all.

large patches of paint has bubbled and or flaked of inside of the wheel.

Plan was paint somthing on quick dust with primer quick dust with something silverish not interested in it cosmetically as you wont see it when its covered in brake dust.
just thought the corrosion might become a problem. It seems not juding by the first post.