Aluminum Cleaner?

[Freakwater]

I'm rebuilding the transom on an old aluminum Starcraft. I found, after removing the old wood, that the aluminum that was in contact is pretty cruddy and oxidized. The boat is 44 years old and has been rigged so many times that the transom aluminum is swiss cheese. I thought the best way to seal these was to coat the replacement wood with caulk before bolting it back on.

I want to clean up the aluminum so I get a good seal. Can anyone suggest a product for cleaning aluminum?

Also, would you use 100% silcone, butyl, latex, or marine caulk? I think I'm wanting something spreadable, so I'm leaning toward silicone. Marine caulk seems too thick.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Freak

[ 02-10-2004, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: Freakwater ]

[CohoKen]

Flitz is the stuff I use. Use a buffer, a small tube goes a long ways. You can find it at Joes for $10 a tube.

[troybuz]

www.sharkhide.com

[Mr. BrownTrout]

Napa auto parts sells a really good aluminum cleaner

[spooner]

mothers

[k9jeff]

Les Schawb sell some liquid polish used on wheels that works great. I dont know the name, but its the only liquid they have.

[Water Ready]

Hey Freakwater,
Are you trying to clean it or polish it? If your trying to get it to a point of adhesion, then either sand it or have it soda blasted. Soda blasting would be the best, cause it can get down in the pits of corrosion. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] Even if you are going to try and polish it, I would suggest sanding it first to remove the oxidation if it's bad. There is not many products out there that I know of that just wipe away water stains and oxidation on aluminum. It doesn't sound like you are going for the polish, but sounds like adhesion. :smile:
Silicone will work for what you will be doing. Good luck and Happy Fishn'

Seal it with 5200.

[Troller]

If you use flitz you will have to clean it with a solvent afterwords it leaves a protective coating. If you just want to clean it look for a acid cleaner that will etch it sharkhide will sell you a product to clean it. If you are going to paint over it and wont see the aluminum that will be all you need. If you are going to polish the aluminum use the acid cleaner , followed by flitz, then a solvent, then polish with a soft cloth using no chemicals, then sharkhyde it. The latter is what I did on my boat and after on season in the salt including 6 days moored at the marina fishing everyday and not cleaning until we got back and not one spot or pit and have not had to polish. The sharkhyde was worth the investment. I was spending more time polishing than fishing and their is something just plain wrong with that.

[fishhard]

If you want to clean it the easy way, use Zepa Lum, it is a acid type cleaner and really does the job with very little effort. I think it is very similar if not the same thing as mag / alloy wheel cleaner.

[trap50]

Koffler sell both aluma kleen (acid) and flitz (a polish). You might aslo try vinegar and rinse with water. Put a zink prime on after.

[trap50]

Koffler sell both aluma kleen (acid) and flitz (a polish). You might aslo try vinegar and rinse with water. Put a zink primer on after.

[Fish mojo]

Sounds like your trying to clean to the point of good adhesion for the sealant- not polish to make purdy. Sand w/wet dry sand paper, then clean w/ acid aluminum cleaner. Use Sika 291 for best wet sealant.

[Freakwater]

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for adhesion for the sealant. I don't think this boat will ever look purdy....

[Riverkeeper]

But the emotional connection will be there [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]