Aluminum Question

[pearl]

Search function isn't working and I know the answer may lay there but I want to tackle this project this weekend.

Bought an aluminum drift boat from a guy recently and it looks as if he tried to polish the aluminum. What is left is kind of a black blotching (see below) that looks like it's etched in the aluminum but in reality if you rub on it really really hard you can make it start to go away but not entirely.

My goal is to get the aluminum back to it's natural state when it came out of Willies shop. Don't want the polished look if possible. Would like to make the blotching go away

Any dummy proof products available or techniques that you can share to get me going in the right direction.

Thanks, Steve

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/aluminum.jpg

[lucky2]

Commercial rubbing compund and a heavy duty buffer will do the job. It's a lot of work though.

[luckyr]

Landa has a product called super nova I think it is about 60.00 for two gallons but you mix it 50 to 1 is what it recommends. I mixed it a lot stronger than that. It is a acid base foams up and rinses off with water. Shark hide make a aluminum cleaner also or so I have heard.

[eagle1]

3m makes a compound in 1 gal. jug that works well for about $35.00 us and looks like chocolate milk. any body shop supply store sells it.


eagle1:smirk:

[jimh]

I've never seen a finish like that. If you acid wash it and use green scotchbrite pads rubbing the same direction, you'll get close to a factory mill finish. You can buy aluminex at boater's world, but there are lots of threads here on different acid washes.

[hetchy]

There is a lot of info. about cleaning aluminum hulls in the ifish Sharkhide thread.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=96978

[pearl]

bump

[Riverkeeper]

Steve, call Mark Z. He's got some wonder potion that he uses and he'll do it for you for a case of beer.

[pearl]

Steve, call Mark Z. He's got some wonder potion that he uses and he'll do it for you for a case of beer

I know Z to well. It will cost me at least two. I'll have to weigh it out?

[RODACTION]

What you need is a commercial strength HYDROFLORIC ACID and SULFURIC ACID solution.

Very nasty stuff but it will restore your aluminum. Spraying it on and with very little work of a scotchbrite, it will come back. It may take more than application, but it will do it.

After you reach what you like, then with the boat dry and scotchbrite in long sweeping motions you can get close to what she looked like when it left the factory.

[Riverkeeper]

Consider doing the fish a favor by not spraying down your boat with these chemicals in a place where the run off will drain into a stream...

[FastAction]

Consider doing the fish a favor by not spraying down your boat with these chemicals in a place where the run off will drain into a stream...


Good luck buddy... you know it all goes into your favorite hole on the Willy..

[Slugranch]

looks like he tried to polish it out with Met All or a simular product. Try using plain old wheat flour and a buffer or terry cloth rag to remove the black stuff. Once the thing is nice and shiny, take it out and fish it for a few weeks and it'll dull down naturally. A lot easier on you and the environment.

[pearl]

looks like he tried to polish it out with Met All or a similar product. Try using plain old wheat flour and a buffer or terry cloth rag to remove the black stuff.

I spoke with another friend yesterday and recommended the flour remedy as well. I'm going to give it a try.

Worst case scenario is no chocolate chip cookies this weekend.