"Ultra Bright Aluminum Cleaner" acid-based aluminum cleaner review

[RV8guy]

Cleaning aluminum is something I do often at work. Try this -

1. Clean with soap and water. Scrub it good with a piece of scotchbrite.

2. Rinse well.

3. Use a spray bottle to apply acid etch. The etch should get kinda foamy looking if it is working. Scrub with scotchbrite but not the same piece you used with the soap.

4. Rinse well.

If everything is clean your rinse water should run right off with no breaks. A break would mean an unclean spot and needs to be cleaned again.

I made a post awhile back on my "Ongoing project" I acid etched the whole thing before treating with alodine and starting the paint proccess.

[jakeru]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm going to see if I can find a spray head that would screw onto this bottle, and give it another test. I think "spray on" application would make it a lot easier to apply the product more evenly.

I've also been reading up on other (Acid-based) Aluminum cleaners that have a different, perhaps more effective but perhaps more dangerous ingredient in them - hydrofluoric acid. There is one, amazingly, that is readily available over the retail counters of many local auto parts stores, sold as a "eagle one mag wheel aluminum cleaner", in a spray head bottle. I can't help but wonder how it would compare to this product I've got, that uses a different ingredient (aluminum bifluoride.) I've read some pretty scary stuff about hydrofluoric acid though, if it gets on your body! It can even eat away at glass. I think if I ever try that, I'll be following all the safety instructions to the Tee.