black marks on my aluminum

[Chuck]

I just took the tarp off my teardrop today, and found black marks and smudges in several places. This is a teardrop I'm building, and I had a tarp over it because there's no hatch on it yet. The tarp I used is your typical Walmart blue tarp. Any ideas on how I can get these marks off?
Thanks much.
Chuck

[BILLYL]

Do you think the marks are mold? You could use something like a soft scrub abrasive - the kind you use in the kitchen. It is very mild and should knowck that stuff off.......

Hope that helps

BILL

[toypusher]

Automotive rubbing compound should do the trick.

[Chuck]

No, I'm pretty sure it's not mold. As far as rubbing compound goes, can you fill me in about something? Whenever I try to "spot clean" aluminum with something like a rubbing compound, I end up with a spot that looks a lot different than the surrounding aluminum. Is there a way clean these marks off without that happening? I don't really want a mirror finish. Thanks much for the help.

[Gage]

Try Mineral Oil, it works for me.

Have a good day,
Gage

[Sarge]

I've used mineral spirits also and it worked to remove paint I accidently got on the aluminum without it making the spot look "cleaner" than the surrounding area. Finally, I blotted the spot as much as possible without doing any swirling or wiping to prevent creating a different shine.

-Sarge

[campadk]

Yup once you start wiping your doomed to polishing. It's like once you've started to peel a sunburn... you'll be flakin all day!

I had polished one side last year and then after driving through a muddy area, I noticed some discoloring which wouldn't come out.. now I'll have to repolish.... ugh!

Your best bet is to keep your tear out of the weather and the elements at ALL times... good luck with that one!

Seems to me an aluminum skinned tear is destined to age faster than a human... or am I wrong?

[benjamin]

Hold on. I realize it takes a bit of up keep but you are saying that if I skin it with aluminum I can’t use it? I plan to use mine but if I have to put a tent over it every time I use it I just as well stay in my tent. I may have to do a bit more reading I want a finish I can use.

[mikeschn]

Hold on. I realize it takes a bit of up keep but you are saying that if I skin it with aluminum I can’t use it? I plan to use mine but if I have to put a tent over it every time I use it I just as well stay in my tent. I may have to do a bit more reading I want a finish I can use.

Check into Alufiber!!!

Mike...

[campadk]

It would be interesting to hear from those who have had their aluminum tear for many years. How does it hold up if you're not polishing it? Enquiriing minds MUST know... tnx!

[robfisher]

My aluminum tear is 57 years old.... and it certainly shows it! It's dented, and pitted, and oxidized to a dull grey. But hey! It's still a teardrop and still fun to use. Just not a lot of fun to show. Somebody has to have the worst looking tear at the gathering. If we are there that somebody probably won't be you.

<IMG SRC="http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/902034/1845024/91350293.jpg">

Just happy to be alive and teardropping,
Rob

[Geron]

My aluminum tear is 57 years old.... and it certainly shows it! It's dented, and pitted, and oxidized to a dull grey.
<IMG SRC="http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL348/902034/1845024/91350293.jpg">

Just happy to be alive and teardropping,
Rob

Them ain't dents, dem ain't pits, hit ain't dull. That's CHARACTER!

All my stuff has a lot of character . My new stuff gains character rapidly. That's what it's for. Just keep it working and use it.

JMO

Geron

[SteveH]

The aluminum that I just put on my teardrop had stains on it every place that I touched it while my hands and arms were sweaty. It looked sort of like oxidized in those areas. Tried all sorts of cleaners, even vinegar, but noting worked. Finally a friend of mine told me to use an automotive cleaner wax, and that worked, but I had to do the whole trailer. I used Mequire's cleaner wax, which has a mild polishing compound in it.

[Geron]

From the lips of George at the Teardrop Fix it Shop:

Lacquer Thinner cleans aluminum but leaves it streaked. Remove the streaks with Mineral Spirits. Use a terry cloth towel. Never tried it but George does a lot of this stuff. Worth a try.

Geron

[SteveH]

I tried lacquer thinner, I tried wax and oil remover, I tried MEK, and nothing would remove the stains on the aluminum from my hands but the cleaner wax.