Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hmm this day is not starting out very well..I went into our porta garage to uncover our aluminum and what did I find?

There is white all over the aluminum.. looks like a thin film of salt or corrosion or whatever it would be in english.. sure looks ugly..

Must be from the cold of winter and them moisture and again drying from warm weather...

Is there any home methods of how I can remove this unwanted horrible looking ugliness from the aluminum?

Ohhhh Boyyyyyy If needed I,ll take a photo of it but Im sure you folks know what I mean..

Extra work again...Yikes and sheeeeeeeet..Do I buff it off or wash it and with what if so?

Classic Finn

I feel your pain as I too am dealing with that same problem. What I have learned so far is that it is hard to end up with a uniform finish. Depending on how heavy of corrosion you have to deal with I would try buffing first. If their is a way to wash i off I havent found it yet. Mine was very corroded in some spots and I have had to sand it with increasingly finer sand paper to get it to the point where I can buff it to get an exceptable finish. For me the hardest part has been a uniform look to the finist I end out with. I hope others , more experianced with this will have some better tips.
Good luck, and I think you are once again going to learn a new skill.
Brwbier

Heikki,
That's aluminum oxide - normal occurance. A light buffing will work. I use a mag and aluminum polish or aluminum jelly, clean off the black with mineral spirits. Your local marine dealer may have something in a liquid or jell you could use. Wear rubber gloves while doing this, of course.

BrwBier wrote:I feel your pain as I too am dealing with that same problem. What I have learned so far is that it is hard to end up with a uniform finish. Depending on how heavy of corrosion you have to deal with I would try buffing first. If their is a way to wash i off I havent found it yet. Mine was very corroded in some spots and I have had to sand it with increasingly finer sand paper to get it to the point where I can buff it to get an exceptable finish. For me the hardest part has been a uniform look to the finist I end out with. I hope others , more experianced with this will have some better tips.
Good luck, and I think you are once again going to learn a new skill.
Brwbier

Brwbier .. so I am not the only one facing this unbelievable phenomenon..
I just couldnt believe my eyes.. since it was also covered up..Ohhh well
live and learn the hardway and not having a decent garage..

Ohhh Gee - nothing more than start a buffn.. and hope for the best..
Isuppose the side of the tear was saved since it still has the protective covering on?

I,ll keep you posted as to how it comes..

Best regards
Classic Finn

Sierrajack wrote:Heikki,
That's aluminum oxide - normal occurance. A light buffing will work. I use a mag and aluminum polish or aluminum jelly, clean off the black with mineral spirits. Your local marine dealer may have something in a liquid or jell you could use. Wear rubber gloves while doing this, of course.

gee thats the word I was looking for...UGH. Well ok I wasnt literally looking for aluminum oxide on the new Aluminum..

The mineral spirits are you talking about such as what I use to clean off my paint brush ? Will that work?

Sj that black color is from after buffing correct?

I,ll go over to the Marine place ..

Im sure they have somthing..

How often does this need to be done on a tear? Or should I wax it after I take the plastic off the sides of my tear? The aluminum that is with oxide
didnt have the protective plastic.. geepers..

Ok I,ll give it a try..

Classic Finn

Heikki,
Yes, mineral spirits, same as what you use to clean your paint brushes with. It takes off the black from the buffing and leaves a nice clean surface. I used a 6" foam pad on my cordless drill and went over the aluminum and then cleaned it with soap and water and finished with mineral spirits. I use a light duty wax on the outside - Meguiars Detail Wax or household pledge works the best. Bare aluminum will require attention all the time, just clean it up when it starts to look bad. Ask your marine supplier if he has a clear coat for bare aluminum which I'm sure boats have also. You will probably have to clean the oxide off with an acid based solution (gel) then buff out.

...like our resident brewwer said...getting a uniform finish will be the hardest part of what may well turnout to be a hard job...over on some of the boat and fishing forums, I have found a lot of folks like the products from http://www.sharkhide.com/ ...I will probably use it on the next AL tear I build......
madjack

Well G... Now I know what to do.. I,ll make the hard easy.. any onlookers can look at the Voyager for free..

A rag in hand and wax in the other.. Enjoy Teardrops folks.. Come and see me again real soon...

Wax On - Wax Off..

Classic Finn