Aluminum Help!

L

Leadfootluke

New member
My good friend drives his straight truck across the state a few times a week and the tanks have taken a beating. On top of that, one of the chemicals he carries is an Alkali [not sure of the properties] but a 55gal drum opened on him and it seeped all over onto the tank, inherently causing massive pitting and damage.



He mentioned it being cleaned up and polished back to an acceptable finish.



Could anyone recommend steps to clean, polish, and protect the tank?



What type of cleaning method/cleaner would be acceptable?

Mothers M&A polish on a powerball? DA?



Any advice and/or procedures would be helpful.



Thank you!
 
On semi rims/tanks I do weekly at our bodyshop I soak them with a product called Alumi Brite (I believe thats the name, I'd have to look it up. I think we order it from Napa). This basically cleans the crap out the wheels/tanks eliminating surface contamination and create a ready to polish surface. It will turn them dull, but your going to polish them. This is after I do a GOOD job degreasing and washing first first though. This **** is strong, its an acid. I don't do much about the pits in the tanks. I just polish like I normally would the paint. I normally use a rotary, never tried a DA.
 
I don't have a rotary available to my knowledge.



So you suggest a degreaser? Is there one you can think of that won't damage the surface? I have Megs D103 APC+, SimpleGreen [a no no from what I hear], Grease Lightning and a few other cleaners/degreasers. Then use this AlumiBrite, or similar cleaning product.



Also, what polish do you use, or would you recommend?
 
Bump Please.



I see a scotchbrite pad will be useful with a metal polish, but I am not sure what my friend is willing to spend on a polish. Especially since the amount of overage we will be dealing with.
 
don't know about the scotch bright pad. Pitting will usually and most always have to result in some sort of sanding to re-level the surface. Polishing stuff like that you would seriously want to use a rotary. You might be able to get away with a DA but it will most likely take double the time.



There are some really good polishes out . . . . . . i have been wanting to try the wet diamond stuff as i have heard great things about it.



Blackfire Aluminum Compound
 
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