Cleaning Cast Aluminum Suggestions ????

[Gary Sword]

If anyone knows of any good products to clean cast aluminum I would appreciated hearing about it. After 22 years my 1985 Corvette looks almost new. One exception is some of the cast aluminum parts on the engine especially the value covers. I have tried a number of products on it but nothing has restored them to their original condition. The cast aluminum is textured and no aluminum polish I have tried so far has worked very good.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/85Vette_Engine1.jpg

[Totoland Mach]

Gary: try a kerosene based degreaser like Gunk. I've not had good results with citrus based products on cast aluminum.

Toto

[ScottB]

have them removed and cc'd, or chromed.

[Truls]

My neighbours probably think im a nuts, doing this 12 at night in my driveway, but what do you not do for a fellow detailer:D

I read your post, and rememberd that in one of my orders i got the P21s polishing soap, I ment that it could be used on Aluminum, and it said that it could on the can/box. Looking around to find something to test it on and outside i found, dont laugh, my old wheelbarrow.:p

Started to rub the P21s PS on the back. And this cleans well! dont know if you can use it on you cast aluminum parts, but it made my wheelbarrow shine. (do think its Aluminum)

http://www.autogeek.net/p153.html

Look:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/truhaa/IMG_3591.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/truhaa/IMG_3598.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/truhaa/IMG_3599.jpg

Even gets water repellent.

[Gary Sword]

Truls, I want to award you with 5 gold stars for going far beyond your duty to a fellow detailer. I hope your neighbors did not call the police on you. Nice aluminum wheelbarrow, your going to have the shiniest wheelbarrow in Norway. Thanks so much for your efforts. It looks like it is worth a try. Including the order I placed today I already placed 2 AG orders since Friday and now there's something else to order.

Killr, I like the chrome look on older hot rods but I would prefer to keep the original aluminum look on my vette. I always appreciate your input.

Toto, thanks for your suggestion I will also give it a try. With all you experience I appreciate your input. How's your new bimmer?

[GearHead_1]

Truls, I want to award you with 5 gold stars for going far beyond your duty to a fellow detailer. I hope your neighbors did not call the police on you. Nice aluminum wheelbarrow, your going to have the shiniest wheelbarrow in Norway. Thanks so much for your efforts. It looks like it is worth a try. Including the order I placed today I already placed 2 AG orders since Friday and now there's something else to order.

Killr, I like the chrome look on older hot rods but I would prefer to keep the original aluminum look on my vette. I always appreciate your input.

Toto, thanks for your suggestion I will also give it a try. With all you experience I appreciate your input. How's your new bimmer?You could always have them glass beaded and then have a clear coat added. This will preserve the look you want and keep the shine down but will be much easier to clean.

[ScottB]

Truls .... you can polish my Iforged Wheels anytime ... you are the man !!!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/PICT0042.JPG

[Gary Sword]

Killr, your IForged wheels are real similar to set of Black 3-Piece Zone wheels I have for my Lambo. They are a lot of fun to clean.

GearHead, I have never seen aluminum parts glass beaded before. What is that process about?

[GearHead_1]

GearHead, I have never seen aluminum parts glass beaded before. What is that process about? Machine shops use it to clean all kinds of metal parts. It's just media blasting in a blast cabinet and the media of choice is glass beads. It works extremely well on aluminum that has something less than a full polish on it. It leaves more of a satin finish. The downside is that when it's used on engine parts, particularly internal parts it takes a while to get it cleaned out of blocks and heads. It leaves a fine dust that can cause engine damage if not removed. I've done this dozens of times for intake manifolds, aluminum heads, alternators that I've finish polished etc. It's very effective at making an old part look new again. Of course you can then polish it as needed to get the finish you desire. It's not expensive and doesn't take long to do. You can buy a satin clear coat paint from manufacturers like Krylon that will leave the satin finish I think you are looking for and it won't oxidize. I've also used this process on a fairly hard to find set of original Shelby valve covers (60's vintage) that had a black krinkle finish with bare aluminum colored fins, they turned out like new. You can buy several colors of krinkle paint also.

[Truls]

He He. Sure i will killr, Ill clean`em 4 free. But frankly those wheels dont look like they need any polish. looks very good on the car.

And that wheel cleaner from P21s worked great on my BBS wheels, have you tryed the gel?

[ScottB]

He He. Sure i will killr, Ill clean`em 4 free. But frankly those wheels dont look like they need any polish. looks very good on the car.

And that wheel cleaner from P21s worked great on my BBS wheels, have you tryed the gel?

Both are exceptional , clean well with no damage to uncoated wheels. I prefer the liquid as I use very little, with the gel I seem to overapply.

[Gary Sword]

Machine shops use it to clean all kinds of metal parts. It's just media blasting in a blast cabinet and the media of choice is glass beads. It works extremely well on aluminum that has something less than a full polish on it. It leaves more of a satin finish. The downside is that when it's used on engine parts, particularly internal parts it takes a while to get it cleaned out of blocks and heads. It leaves a fine dust that can cause engine damage if not removed. I've done this dozens of times for intake manifolds, aluminum heads, alternators that I've finish polished etc. It's very effective at making an old part look new again. Of course you can then polish it as needed to get the finish you desire. It's not expensive and doesn't take long to do. You can buy a satin clear coat paint from manufacturers like Krylon that will leave the satin finish I think you are looking for and it won't oxidize. I've also used this process on a fairly hard to find set of original Shelby valve covers (60's vintage) that had a black krinkle finish with bare aluminum colored fins, they turned out like new. You can buy several colors of krinkle paint also.

Gearhead, Thanks for the info. So is basically it's having them sand blasted with glass beads instead of sand. I'm going to try a few more cleaners and see what I can do with them. It all else fails I may that them off and have them blasted.