Cleaning aluminum components

Well, I have another old Offenhauser manifold on my hands and want to clean it up. I have tried bead blasting them, that works but I don't like the finish. It takes off a lot of the "as cast" look. So my question. Has anyone tried walnut shell blasting on these? How about "etching" wheel cleaner?

Any other suggestions?

 

How about trying the dish washer? It works rather well. Don't let the wife find out.

 

You will probably get a bunch of replies on this but the ways to clean the part up after blasting are numerous. a freshly blasted part with some pledge and a br*** brush carnuba wax and stainless brush scotch brite and solvent. you have to try few methods to end up with what you like. Gl*** beading leaves a nice natural finish on the parts. you need to put something over the freshly blasted part to seal up the pores a bit it will help keep the part a uniform color as it ages. Metal ready works good a bit duller finish.
I'm sure there are tons of ways to clean the part up and hopefully some one will chime in that explains thing better than i do.

 

NAPA has an aluminum brightener, it's a pretty strong acid - a lot stronger than the etching wheel cleaner. Spray it on with a pump sprayer and let it eat. Then rinse it off. I also sprayed my Carb with it, it really ate the tarnishing off. You need to make sure you degrease it real good first though.

 

Take it to a good transmission shop they will probally clean it for a few bucks.

 

Now there is an "energy saving" idea. "Economy of motion is the first mark of a gentleman" Steed - the old Avengers.

 

i allways use eagle one mag cleaner just use it outside kinda smells cause its like a mild acid wash

 

I use etching wheel cleaner all the time. I like the effect they will come out almost white if they are a good casting.

Sometimes I soak them with Lemon Pledge furniture polish. That seals them up pretty good, The downside is that in a few years they get a magnesium alloy look to them. So you need to give them a good acid wash again if you want them to stay aluminum looking.

Let me see if I have a pic for you.

Yep found one, the aluminum here was cleaned with etching cleaner. Then soaked down with lemon pledge and has about 5 or 6 years of running and the occasional spritz.

 

Eastwood list several aluminum cleaners in their catalog,

 

Since I know a ****** guy, I think I am going to take that suggestion. Any reason I can't have him throw the carbs in (stand up steam/pressure washer)? They are pretty old and dirty.

 

Go to the transmission shop saves a lot of grief.

I've done alum manifolds, hub caps and carbs in the dish washer, wow you talk about one pizzed lady.

Guess me wifey just don't understand.

 

Ha HA, I powder coated some pieces using the over once. I'll never do that again.

 

I'll bet you would've gotten away with it if you would've put a sheet of cookies in there with 'em.

 

Bead blast then seal with spray silicone.It is close to the origional finish.

 

I have a special acid for aluminium to do this. You may want to try trailer wash for big trucks that works well too. I have 3 tanks to clean parts steel,aluminium etc. I see your in m*** so am i if i can help pm me

 

Super Clean

 

I have some of the NAPA aluminum brightener, it works pretty well. It is nasty stuff, so wear safety gl***es and gloves.

 

The beadblasting will leave a flat dull look to cast aluminum. I sandblast all of mine and shoot them with wheel clear (light coat). I have been doing this for about 25 years and never had anyone NOT like the original look if gives to the manifold.

 

Yard sale portable dish washers

On the last one I did I used Oil eater to clean the grease and grime off the intake and Griot's Wheel cleaner to finish it off http://www.griotsgarage.com/product...eel+tire+cleaners/wheel+cleaner,+35+ounces.do