Aluminum cleaning advice needed

Steelie Tamer · 01-05-2009, 05:49 PM

Well I took the drifter out on saturday and when I got to the launch I went to take the travel bra off and some of the felt from the inside of the bra stuck to the aluminum, it appeared that it had froze to it. Well being in a hurry to get on the water and get fishing, I just used my shirt sleeve and gave it a quick wipe and proceeded to go fish. Yesterday morning I went out to clean up the boat and where it had stuck there is now what looks like a stain. I tried spraying simple green on it to get it off and it did not work, it seems it is settled in pretty good. Is there a good aluminum safe product anyone knows of that I should try? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

tally · 01-05-2009, 06:20 PM

I'm not sure what would clean your boat but I do know this. I work for an airplane manufacturer (guess who), and we unknowingly use some "Simple Green' on an aluminum spar. It was in the cabinet and nothing else would touch this stuff that was on the spar we got from China. It worked, simple green cleaned it right off. Engineering heard about it and had the spar rejected as SG is not an approved aluminum cleaner it is actually a corosive to alum!!!!
I bought a new North River sled with Alum trailer and Simple Green will not get close to my boat!!
Try Ketone on cheese cloth.

luckyr · 01-05-2009, 07:03 PM

Cleaning aluminum can be a tricky process. Not knowing if you are letting your boat age naturally or spit shined. There is all sorts of products that clean or acid clean your boat but beware this area you treat may not match the rest of your boats patina. Good Luck

Steelie Tamer · 01-05-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyr

Cleaning aluminum can be a tricky process. Not knowing if you are letting your boat age naturally or spit shined. There is all sorts of products that clean or acid clean your boat but beware this area you treat may not match the rest of your boats patina. Good Luck

It is a new willies(no paint) so I am just mainly trying to keep it looking clean, I have already prepare myself with the idea of what ever I use I will most likely have to do the whole boat. Do you think a rubbing compound would lift it?

Tally, thanks for the heads up about the simple green. My brother is one of those engineers at the one in Everett, but don't hold it against me!

Honu_in_Oregon · 01-05-2009, 09:23 PM

I just posted this same question this weekend.
I went to Fishermans and they have an Aluminum Boat Cleaner. ( an acid wash...be careful)
I used it and it did a good job (see pic) but did not clean off any "Rub" marks.
I also used Lacquer Thinner (which was advised by a Willie Boat employee). It took of some dark spots, like tar, etc, so that might work for your issue.

Careful with the steel wool idea ( I wouldn't try that).

PM me if you need some other ideas.

t_birder · 01-06-2009, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelie Tamer

Well I took the drifter out on saturday and when I got to the launch I went to take the travel bra off and some of the felt from the inside of the bra stuck to the aluminum, it appeared that it had froze to it. Well being in a hurry to get on the water and get fishing, I just used my shirt sleeve and gave it a quick wipe and proceeded to go fish. Yesterday morning I went out to clean up the boat and where it had stuck there is now what looks like a stain. I tried spraying simple green on it to get it off and it did not work, it seems it is settled in pretty good. Is there a good aluminum safe product anyone knows of that I should try? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

Hey there Steelie,
Your'e in a tuff spot here. When I get boats in to clean I would much rather have one that was old and nasty looking than one that looks good accept for just a spot here or there. I've found it to be all but impossible (naturally depending on the stain) to clean and "spot mach" the finish on a nice hull. If it was in bad shape overall, we could simply hit it with my aluminum cleaner and it would bring it back to a uniform (off white) color. Most people think it's not as nice looking as the shiny mill finish, but it's a whole lot better than the stained and streaked look.
Clint

Heres an example of what to expect with the Sharkhide brand of cleaner. Some other cleaners can probably give the same results too.
BEFORE

AFTER

luckyr · 01-06-2009, 06:45 PM

[quote=Steelie Tamer;2342503]It is a new willies(no paint) so I am just mainly trying to keep it looking clean, I have already prepare myself with the idea of what ever I use I will most likely have to do the whole boat. Do you think a rubbing compound would lift it?

Tally, thanks for the heads up about the simple green. My brother is one of those engineers at the one in Everett, but don't hold it against me.

I can tell you how to polish your boat out. The problem is that patina steel wool will take some of it off but you may have blending issues. Rubbing compound will lift it but you will need a set up like I pictures below to create enough friction to burn off the oxide.

Here is a little shot of my boat sorry about my ugly crew, they are not pretty but they catch fish.

The reason I polished my boat out was it got little white specks from deicer on the road. I couldn't find a happy medium.

Honu_in_Oregon · 01-06-2009, 09:30 PM

Here is what I bought

Steelie Tamer · 01-07-2009, 05:28 PM

Thanks for the ideas guys! Whatever it is, it is really set into the aluminum. So, it looks like rubbing compound or some kind of aluminum deoxidizer is probably gonna be my best bet.

backlash442 · 01-08-2009, 07:09 AM

I use something called Master Formula. They have a metal gloss and sealer. Can't believe how well it works. Used Flitz but this works much better. Works well on both the paint and bare alum. portion of the boat. However, I found that were the boat cover rubs it seems to break the polish down faster. My swimstep is uncovered and it looks great.

Short Fetch · 01-08-2009, 08:09 PM

Aluminun naturally protects itself by forming aluminum oxide which is the chalky layer that appears. Once Aluminum oxide forms the aluminum is very protected and quite impervious to almost anything. When cleaning this layer down to bare shiny aluminum, you are actually very slightly taking away from the original thickness. This alone is probably insignificant unless the process is repeated over and over. In my opinion, the beauty of aluminum is the low maintenance and therefore prefer to just rinse with soap and water and let its natural patina shine through and protect itself. I know this approach is not for eveybody but just my

.

RiverJohn · 01-09-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Short Fetch

Aluminun naturally protects itself by forming aluminum oxide which is the chalky layer that appears. Once Aluminum oxide forms the aluminum is very protected and quite impervious to almost anything. When cleaning this layer down to bare shiny aluminum, you are actually very slightly taking away from the original thickness. This alone is probably insignificant unless the process is repeated over and over. In my opinion, the beauty of aluminum is the low maintenance and therefore prefer to just rinse with soap and water and let its natural patina shine through and protect itself. I know this approach is not for eveybody but just my

.

Same

I may spray/rub the waterline and hose down the floor.

Thats it.

Thats why I bought Aluminum.

FishRCutBait · 01-10-2009, 09:31 AM

I was at the boat show and found a product I had used before. It's called Flitz and it is an aluminum, fiberglass and plastic polish that does not contain acid. Acid is not a good match with aluminum!

I have used it before and it does a great job.

Steelie Tamer · 01-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Thanks for all the replies guy's! I launch/takeout my boat at alot of rough lanches, so for me spit shining my boat is pointless and besides I am also a full time husband/dad so I do not have the time to be that anal each time after I take it out. I just bought the same stuff they use at us marine in olympia for this same application which is a acid based aluminum cleaner this should take care of it, I will come back with the result when I am done. Again, thank you all for the feedback!

tally · 01-15-2009, 03:31 PM

Glad you found something. I like to keep my stuff looking good too, not new just looking good.

AlseaAssassin · 01-16-2009, 11:18 AM

Aluminex purchased at GI Joes dialed my boat in.

Highmark · 01-16-2009, 11:29 AM

And it's the cheapest place to buy it as well.

HM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlseaAssassin

Aluminex purchased at GI Joes dialed my boat in.

No Fish · 01-18-2009, 08:40 PM

tally said simple green is corrosive to aluminum- oh boy. When I come home from catching a few salmon the vinyl flooring in my aluminum boat needs cleaning. If I put it in the garage without using soap and a scrub brush my garage smells pretty foul. I have been using a 1/2 cup of simple green in a bucket of water. I just ran out and checked a gallon bottle of simple green and all it said was that it was none toxic and biodegradable no mention of aluminum. That sounded pretty harmless but I'll never use it again. From now on dish soap I guess. Whoever would have known?
I have another aluminum problem I ran into. It has to do with marine plywood and the inner bottom of aluminum boats but after hearing about this I think I will try to talk to Tally more before I post. I think I'll make it a new thread.

fillet&release · 01-20-2009, 10:43 AM

I cant belive I havent seen anyone put this on there but quick&brite works great but you have to follow the directions my