Looking to restore oxidation on aluminum, any advice?

[waarp8nt]

I picked up some reloading equipment at an auction. Some of the items have oxidation, what is the best way to clean the oxidation so I can paint / restore them? I've read that white vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda. What do you use?

319226

[Winger Ed.]

For tools, I don't usually go all out and get fancy with them.
I just sand it, feathering out the edges of the existing finish, clean it with a harsh solvent like carb. cleaner, and paint it.

[deces]

Powder coating the green parts would bring those back.

[waarp8nt]

For tools, I don't usually go all out and get fancy with them.
I just sand it, feathering out the edges of the existing finish, clean it with a harsh solvent like carb. cleaner, and paint it.

I have plenty of sandpaper and carburetor cleaner on hand. Thank you.

[country gent]

The steel parts on the case trimmer I would give a good soak in white vinegar and peroxide mixed 50-50. Check some what often. You can soak the aluminum also but the mix is much more aggressive with aluminum.

A small nylon brush cup style in a die grinder or drill Work down wash with solvent dry maybe warm in oven a time or 2 to dry out cast aluminum Then prime and paint

Just a food scrubbing with brush and dish soap will remove a lot and prep for new paint

[Winger Ed.]

I have plenty of sandpaper and carburetor cleaner on hand. Thank you.

Hope it works. On tools-- I want them to work. Winning a beauty contest is a distant 2nd.:bigsmyl2:

[atfsux]

According to Wiki-How;...

When your wheels are heavily oxidized, you'll need to use an aluminum polish pre-cleaner. Spray on the cleaner and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Brush oxidized areas where necessary. Rinse and dry the wheel well before moving on.

https://www.amazon.com/California-Custom-Aluminum-Deoxidizer-12/dp/B005Q94AO2/ref=asc_df_B005Q94AO2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312202698398&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15450837609078815521&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030160&hvtargid=pla-524316652050&psc=1

[Jsm180]

Glass bead or soda blast the aluminum. Soak the steel parts in Evapo-Rust.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0TLQ66?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_9&amp=&crid=1418N9Y2TKJXV&amp=&sprefix=rust+remo

[Moleman-]

For the blued parts, boil them and card the loose rust off. They will come out looking almost new if the pitting isn't too bad. You're basically just doing a rust blue step on them. Here's some Redding dies I cleaned late summer. Should of taken a before pic of the die bodies but they were at least as rusty as the blued parts. Boiled, carded and oiled the blued parts looked new except for plier marks and rust pitting. The die bodies were not boiled. Since they're case hardened I just hit with a wire brush followed up by a scotchbrite pad. Don't use your wifes nice pot. That's a pole barn pot I use mainly for degreasing.

[racepres]

Aluminum oxidation responds well to wd-40...then brush...then even steel wool again with wd-40..

[waarp8nt]

For the blued parts, boil them and card the loose rust off. They will come out looking almost new if the pitting isn't too bad. You're basically just doing a rust blue step on them. Here's some Redding dies I cleaned late summer. Should of taken a before pic of the die bodies but they were at least as rusty as the blued parts. Boiled, carded and oiled the blued parts looked new except for plier marks and rust pitting. The die bodies were not boiled. Since they're case hardened I just hit with a wire brush followed up by a scotchbrite pad. Don't use your wifes nice pot. That's a pole barn pot I use mainly for degreasing.


The die bodies and blued parts turned out great. Thanks for the pics showing the end product.

[Moleman-]

The die bodies and blued parts turned out great. Thanks for the pics showing the end product.

Boiling and carding rusted blued steel parts is often overlooked in favor of stripping all the finish off and starting over. I like it as it's minimal effort and investment. I do have a SS .0025" wire carding wheel, but have used degreased 0000 steel wool, old jeans and burlap. The old rust film you're removing isn't attached very hard and generally comes off easily. If its not, try boil it again. The carding wheels are much faster though and make it easier to get into crevices like knurling. Looks like they've gone up since I got mine but the 4-row is still only $30 at brownells. Look up Mark Novak/Anvil rust bluing on youtube if you're bored. He has a bunch of videos on restoring rusted firearms where boiling and carding is all he does to the metal.

[waarp8nt]

Look up Mark Novak/Anvil rust bluing on youtube if you're bored. He has a bunch of videos on restoring rusted firearms where boiling and carding is all he does to the metal.

I watched his video on restoring a K98, pretty amazing stuff.

[Moleman-]

I watched his video on restoring a K98, pretty amazing stuff.

He's got a lot of similar videos all pretty amazing how they turn out especially if they're not heavily pitted. Just something else to put in the bag of tricks.