Aluminum Step Van

Serious Education ... plus the most fun you can have in metal finishing.

(1999)

Q. I have a film of whitish/grey/brown deposits on sheets of alclad aluminum. I'm not sure if it is oxidation or deposits from damp storage in contact with paper (between the sheets to "protect" the surfaces). There is very little reaction to Alumiprep 33. The only thing that seems to have any reaction with this is Casite "Rust Out" - it turns it white but it still won't come off without hard scuffing. There is no info on the "Rust Out" label stating its chemical make-up so I'm afraid of using it on all of the sheets and it still requires a healthy amount of abrasive scrubbing. Any suggestions?

Pat Perry
- Dallas, Pennsylvania

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Ed. note: Sorry, we do not find "Casite Rust Out" anywhere on the internet. There is a Casite "Rust Penetrator & Lubricating Oil".

(1999)

A. Unless someone has used the two proprietary products you mentioned, we cannot comment on the results, or even get some feel for the corrosion you are trying to remove. We also need more information on what you are doing with the sheets after you clean them... Are you then painting or plating them, or using them as is? We also do not know the capabilities of your shop/work area. So we are loathe to suggest "electroclean" or "bright dip" or some other answer which you may not be able to perform, anyway.

Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township,
Pennsylvania
(2001)

Q. I HAVE AN ALUMINUM TOOL BOX - 1 MONTH OLD- IT ALREADY HAS WATER SPOTS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED! WE HAVE TRIED Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], AND METAL MAGIC, IT MAKES IT SHINE BUT THE WATER SPOTS ARE STILL THERE... ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO USE? THANK YOU.

RICKY VERRET
- NEW IBERIA, Louisiana(2000)

Q. One more aluminum question. I have a step van (like a UPS or FedEx Truck). It is all aluminum walls on the interior. The walls show some where and oxidation. What can I use to renew an almost new finish. The interior of the step van will be used to process perishable foods. Thanks for your help. Douglas

Douglas Wiggins

A. Ricky,
Sorry, but it may not be practical to remove those stains. If the toolbox is anodized aluminum, that coating looks like a honeycomb. If it was not properly sealed, and a stain is down in that those "honey chambers", you just can't get to it short of completely stripping the anodizing.

A. Douglas,
Despite Ricky's limited success, polishing with Mothers is probably the way to go. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
finishing.com
Pine Beach, New Jersey(2001)