Acid cleaning aluminum?

[Scupper]

After grinding the 20 years of crud build up off the bottom of my 16' Lund my neighbor told me to get some acid and it would restore the polished look of almost new aluminum.
Any one else heard of this?
What's the process?
Thanks.

[Steve Bakken]

Acid is definitely the place to start. That will get all the contaminants off and bring it down to raw aluminum. What we do at the shop after we've done that is to go over the whole thing with a series of different rubbing and polishing compounds on a machine buffer. This will help to remove the surface defects and scratches to give it that true "brand new" look. Of course, if you don't have access to a good machine buffer, elbow grease always does the trick, it just takes a little longer. Hope that helps, good luck.

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Steve @ Bakken's Boat Shop www.bakkensboatshop.com

[minneman]

Dont forget to protect yourself using acid!

[1DIRTBALL]

Would carbon tetrachloride also work for cleaning an aluminum boat?

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YOU CAN'T talk AN OLD talk'ER!

[wastewaterguru]

Carbon tetrachloride is a good organic solvent......but poor as a an inorganic solvent. It will remove grease and oils and some dirt, but will be ineffetive on mineral deposits or aluminum oxidation.

Most commercial hull cleaning liquids are a combination of hydrochloric and oxalic acid.

[This message has been edited by wastewaterguru (edited 07-08-2004).]

[Scupper]

Thanks for the information fellas.
You guys are really making me look good when the wife comes around the "monster garage" as she calls it.
I'll hit her with some shop talk, saftey issues and chemistry properties.
Can't thank you enough!
Good Luck...

[zepman]

Acid is a great way of cleaning your boat hull. Be very carefull if you are going to be using any product that has hydroflouric acid in it. This is the type of acid most trucking companies and truck washes use to get their trailers clean. You do NOT want to get any of this acid on yourself. Use gloves, goggles etc... to protect yourself.

Also, watch your contact time with any type of acid. This is strong stuff and usually only takes 10-15 seconds to do what you need.

[united jigsticker]

I don't think anyone is using HF (hydroflouric) acid for cleaning purposes.

I believe you ment Hydrochloric.

HF is a potent calcium seeking acid that is used in metal finishing applications on SST alloys, carbide, titanium, etc.

The vapors alone from this acid is enough to burn you.

Stick with the HCL.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[zepman]

United-
I did mean HF acid. There are not alot of places you can get your hands on the stuff but nevertheless it is available and people and boat companies do use it to clean and "etch" their boats. I was just giving a heads up to read label and follow instructions in case somebody did get their hands on the stuff.