Best Ways To Remove Aluminum Oxidation? - Bike Forums

Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage > Best ways to remove aluminum oxidation? Username Remember Me? Password By logging into your account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies as described therein. Register Forgot Password? Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search Vendor Directory Notices Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more. Search Forums Show Threads Show Posts Advanced Search Find All Liked Posts Go to Page... Best ways to remove aluminum oxidation? Reply Subscribe Thread Tools Search this Thread 01-19-11 | 01:17 PM #1 southpawboston Thread Starter Senior Member Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 4,134 Likes: 190 From: Somerville, MA and Catskill Mtns Best ways to remove aluminum oxidation? I have some aluminum chainguards that have patches of severe corrosion-- in places it has eaten right through to the other side. Obviously there's no way to restore these and replace the missing material, but is there a chemical that will eat through the oxidized part leaving the intact aluminum nice and shiny? Sort of like an aluminum equivalent of OA? My goal is to remove whatever corrosion I can, polish up, then clearcoat. These are the guards in question. Poor pic, but notice the dark patches of corrosion. My normal method of scrubbing with steel wool and dish soap didn't polish them up nearly as well as it works on chromed steel: Attached Images carters.jpg (30.2 KB, 135 views) Last edited by southpawboston; 01-19-11 at 01:21 PM. Reply 0 0 southpawboston View Public Profile Find More Posts by southpawboston View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 01:39 PM #2 atmdad Oh Snap, not again... Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 606 Likes: 0 From: Cardiff, Ca E.G. 0000 Steel wool, Mothers Aluminum Mag polish and E.G. (elbow grease). Would also love to hear if there is an easier way. Reply 0 0 atmdad View Public Profile Find More Posts by atmdad View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 02:03 PM #3 michael k Senior Member Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 2 From: Portland,Or Duragloss auto products makes a aluminum cleaner.Acid base (hydracloric)?It removes the Aluminum oxide coating that forms naturally on aluminum just not sure if it will do anything for the corrosion. They do make a zinc/aluminum brazing rods. I picked some up several years ago at the Portland swap meet and repaired some alum bits.The guy selling them demonstrated them by welding up holes in coke cans with a little hand held map gas torch. https://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtal...p/t-10709.html Edit:Another thought is to use a stainless steel wire brush on the corrosion then polish.We use stainless brushes on alum. to prep before welding. Last edited by michael k; 01-19-11 at 02:20 PM. Reply 0 0 michael k View Public Profile Find More Posts by michael k View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 02:22 PM #4 WNG Spin Forest! Spin! Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,956 Likes: 18 From: Arrid Zone-a Bikes: I used to have many. And I Will again. Auto parts stores carry Aluminum Mag wheel cleaner/sprays. Make sure it's the can for bare aluminum, not painted/clearcoated finishes. Works like oven cleaner only milder. Reply 0 0 WNG View Public Profile Find More Posts by WNG View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 02:44 PM #5 ScottRyder Photographer Joined: May 2006 Posts: 3,118 Likes: 101 From: The other Cape, Cape Ann There's also the stuff that they sell to get the oxidation off of aluminum storm window and doors .. not sure the name of it .. Scott __________________ ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive IG @scottryder.surf.cycle IG @scottryder.fine.art Reply 0 0 ScottRyder View Public Profile Find More Posts by ScottRyder View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 03:04 PM #6 Chombi Senior Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 11,128 Likes: 39 Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC Make sure first that you are not dealing with anodized parts as you will need to remove the anodizing if you are even going to make a dent on removing the oxidation. removing the anodizing is easy enough by using oven cleaner spray. It really depends on how deep the oxidation had worked into the aluminum if it is not too deep, just a bit of elbow grease and some polishing compound past might make it dissapear very quickly. If the oxidation is deep, you might have to use a buffing wheel and buffing wheel compound to get down below the level of the oxidation becasue if you do not take off enough material, you will end up with pits on the surface. Be careful with thin parts like those chainguards might be, as you can overheat and warp them if you apply too much pressure with the buffer. This polishing might result in a mirror finish that you might not want, but it is easy enough to use a fine Scothcbrite pad to get a more directional satin-like surface if you want it that way. just experiment with the Scotchbrite. What is good is, you can always erase what you have done with the buffer and start over again if you do not like the results. Good luck and tell us how it goes! Chombi Reply 0 0 Chombi View Public Profile Find More Posts by Chombi View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 04:48 PM #7 ftwelder Senior Member Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,081 Likes: 10 From: vermont Bikes: Many Using acids on aluminum is very tricky. I do a lot of weld repairs on aluminum pieces and have all the acids that are sold for this purpose and they are pretty useless. Nothing like Oxalic acid. I have a large vibratory finisher that is basically a box of rocks that vibrates like crazy. Some of the rocks are pointy and some are round. It seems to "smooth out" surface variations. It can't do a full polish but it will smooth it out without removing more than a 'thou or so (.001") The kids around here have me VF the valve covers on their "tuners" (small cars with bald tires) before they polish them. We can give it a whirl if you like ? Reply 0 0 ftwelder View Public Profile Find More Posts by ftwelder View iTrader Profile 01-19-11 | 05:34 PM #8 mixtemaniac Senior Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 339 Likes: 0 Bikes: 1981 Sekai 1500 Mixte, 1974 Schwinn Le Tour Mixte, 1984 Peugeot Mixte, 1975 Gitane Grand Sport Deluxe Mixte, Motobecane Nomade II Mixte, 2001 Trek 520, 1974 Peugeot UO-18 Mixte Quote: Originally Posted by atmdad E.G. 0000 Steel wool, Mothers Aluminum Mag polish and E.G. (elbow grease). Would also love to hear if there is an easier way. This is what I've always done and it seems to work. I usually alternate between a steel or brass bristle brush for really tough spots. Although I don't think I've ever had to deal with "extreme" oxidation. Reply 0 0 mixtemaniac View Public Profile Find More Posts by mixtemaniac View iTrader Profile 01-20-11 | 11:39 PM #9 J T CUNNINGHAM Senior Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 813 Likes: 0 From: TORONTO , ONT , CA Bikes: '86 AMBROSI / C RECORD. PINARELLO MONTELLO / FRAME, FORK. Steel wool + aluminium = disimilarity of metals. Not a good idea. Regards, J T EOM. Reply 0 0 J T CUNNINGHAM View Public Profile Find More Posts by J T CUNNINGHAM View iTrader Profile 01-20-11 | 11:50 PM #10 realestvin7 Large Member Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 2,533 Likes: 5 From: Tejas Has anybody thought about pouring these products down into your seat tube to possibly break free stuck aluminum seatposts in steel frames? Reply 0 0 realestvin7 View Public Profile Find More Posts by realestvin7 View iTrader Profile 01-21-11 | 02:47 AM #11 Mike Mills Senior Member Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,929 Likes: 2 They sell "Aluminum Jelly" that works on aluminum the way "Naval Jelly" works on iron rust. Reply 0 0 Mike Mills View Public Profile Find More Posts by Mike Mills View iTrader Profile Reply Subscribe Related Topics Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Shiny Aluminum crandress Classic & Vintage 24 02-16-17 05:10 AM polishing aluminum Knotdodger Classic & Vintage 17 10-27-13 10:07 PM customizing an aluminum frame Big Lew Framebuilders 9 08-07-11 04:01 PM De-rusting assemblies of steel and aluminum Stanger Classic & Vintage 8 06-18-10 11:41 AM Back to Subforum Classic & Vintage View Next Unread Took delivery of my new to me '86 schwinn prelude today Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is OffTrackbacks are Off Pingbacks are Off Refbacks are Off Forum Rules Thread Tools Show Printable Version Search this Thread Advanced Search Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page Advanced Search Reply Closed Thread Share

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Reddit

• First
• Prev
• 1 / 1
• Next
• Last

1

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.