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11-27-2013, 08:56 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Aluminum Cleaner
Does anybody know of an aluminum cleaner product that does not contain hydrofluoric acid? The only one I found does, but that acid is too hazardous to use and I don't want it near me, let alone taking a risk of getting it on me.
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11-27-2013, 09:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Brisbane
Vessel Model: 49ft 11inch catamaran-trawler
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
Does anybody know of an aluminum cleaner product that does not contain hydrofluoric acid? The only one I found does, but that acid is too hazardous to use and I don't want it near me, let alone taking a risk of getting it on me.
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Why is it to hazardous to use?
I have been using allbright heavy (10% hydrofluoric ) for near 30 years and have had no issues whatsoever.
Of course I make a reasonable attempt not to swim in it or drink it and wash it off if I do get it on my skin.
Henkel - Henkel Indusrial Chemicals - Cleaning Enhanser - Turco Albright Heavy - Telford Industries
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11-27-2013, 10:20 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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Xsbank, Without knowing your project, I had good results from "Autosol Marine Shine", in 100gm tube, 750gm tub. 3" aluminum cockpit trim edging was so degraded I applied it with furniture grade steel wool initially, graduating to cloth.Comes from Germany. I used it on brass,s/steel, and for marks/stains on gelcoat or painted surfaces where polish won`t do it. Could be expensive for a large area, eg may not suit reviving a pitted aluminum dinghy.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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11-28-2013, 12:41 AM
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#4
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Cool, Bruce, I appreciate the info but:
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11-28-2013, 01:08 AM
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#5
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Guru
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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Try a two liter bottle of coca cola in a less conspicuous area as a test. For that big of a job a mop and bucket may be the set up. Experiment for desired result but I've found it to be cheap and effective for larger aluminum cleaning jobs.
Sounds crazy but it's worked for me.
Edit: Have a bottle of rum handy for any left over cleaning solvent.
__________________
Craig
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
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11-28-2013, 01:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
City: Brisbane
Vessel Model: 49ft 11inch catamaran-trawler
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
Cool, Bruce, I appreciate the info but:
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I vote for she looks fine how she is.
Making her shiny will just hurt your eyes.
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11-28-2013, 08:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
City: newfoundland
Vessel Name: E.E.S.
Vessel Model: 38' Northumberland
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 140
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You can stay away from Hydrofluoric acid based products, as Craig said Coke works quite well, trouble is It's pretty sticky lol, the reason it works is that it contains phosphoric acid....that's why I never drink it
Do a bit more research, I found this in 10 seconds
http://pc.dupont.com/dpc/en/US/html/...n_Finishes.pdf
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11-28-2013, 10:04 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
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You have to neutralize it with rum before drinking Robbie
__________________
Craig
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
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11-28-2013, 10:12 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: somewhere
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,356
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CPseudonym
You have to neutralize it with rum before drinking Robbie
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Throw a chicken bone in some coke, wait and see what happens...
__________________
Life is a Beach
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11-28-2013, 12:05 PM
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#10
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Scraping Paint
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
Cool, Bruce, I appreciate the info but:
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But keep in mind that that offending oxide layer is what protects the aluminum from corrosion.
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11-28-2013, 06:41 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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I don't want it shiny, merely clean. Hydrofluoric acid is evil, it sinks into your skin like water into a sponge and it basically dissolves you from the inside out. There are specific responses to exposure that can mitigate the damage but it doesn't even burn your skin until sometime after exposure, by which time you have been seriously injured.
The aluminum oxide will return very quickly but the rust streaks and black streaks will have to start all over. The anchor chain is rusty and as it is on a drum winch not a chain locker, it has left rust stains on the hull sides that I'd like to remove. I can probably show you a photo and you will see why.
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11-28-2013, 06:46 PM
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#12
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Scraping Paint
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
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Use phosphoric acid for the rust. Coca Cola or Ospho. No need to use hydroflouric.
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11-28-2013, 06:46 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Sorry about the squint photo...
I'm looking for new chain.
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11-28-2013, 06:52 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
City: Brisbane
Vessel Model: 49ft 11inch catamaran-trawler
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
I don't want it shiny, merely clean.
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Well, allbright heavy which is only 10% makes it shiney
Imagine what a 100% solution will be like.
Quote:
Hydrofluoric acid is evil, it sinks into your skin like water into a sponge and it basically dissolves you from the inside out.
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Yes I know that but thats why they make appropriate clothing.
Like I said, I have used it several times a year for 30 years and haven't dissolved myself yet.
Worst I have had is a burn the size of a match head on my hand now from a few days ago, probably because I wasn't wearing gloves.
I would think if you wore gloves and shoes and used a $10 weed sprayer to apply on a windless day doing a few m2 at a time and hose off, there would be little to no chance of you dissolving.
Of course if there is something else that works as well as a simple brush/hose on hose off, and is perfectly safe, I'd use that.
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11-28-2013, 07:19 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
Cool, Bruce, I appreciate the info but:
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Helps knowing the actual job. I got close at 'pitted aluminum dinghy". Sounds like a good use for Coca Cola.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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11-29-2013, 12:06 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
City: Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Vessel Name: Change of Heart
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 42
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 236
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Ken, thought of CLR for the staining? Could also consider soda blasting next time she's on the hard. - Boyd
__________________
Everything on your boat is broken...you just don't know about it yet.
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11-29-2013, 01:40 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Hi Boyd, I'm going to have her bottom soda-blasted (or dry ice or...) in order to prime and bottom paint her. I don't think I can afford to have the entire lump done, although she would certainly look terrific. I'll ask the yard, their workers might enjoy labouring upright?
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11-29-2013, 05:08 AM
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#18
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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The French cruisers seem to use a big grinder with a soft pad on which they stick a pad like a scotch brite pad.
These come in a large variety of aggressiveness .
Leaves a very fine swirl in the hull finish , and is easy to spot refinish as required.
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11-29-2013, 08:25 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
Vessel Model: 2003 Monk 36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,882
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[QUOTE=CPseudonym;195073]Try a two liter bottle of coca cola in a less conspicuous area as a test. For that big of a job a mop and bucket may be the set up. Experiment for desired result but I've found it to be cheap and effective for larger aluminum cleaning jobs.
I can hear a USCG boarding crew "Sir, there are traces of Coke all over this boat"
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