How To Remove Aluminum Transfer Without Acid

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diggers_dad

diggers_dad

Sawchologist
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Dec 4, 2008
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Those two guys have helped me so much to better understand this stuff. A big thanks from me to them as well.

Randy,

A huge "Thank you!" to them and especially you. You didn't only explain it, but showed how it's done step by step. You could teach a chimpanzee to do that.

Amazing!

You have given a whole lot of saws a new lease on life. I'm off to the hardware store ...

dd
 
Mastermind

Mastermind

Work Saw Specialist
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Tennessee
Randy your way shown is going to save me a lot of elbow grease. Been doing it without acid for about 5 years now.

What really got me started doing it this way was after I ruined a couple. If they have a scratch that's thru the plating, the acid will eat at the underlying aluminum and the scratch becomes a gulley. Same for pits, the acid gets in the pits, and it eats and eats.......
 
Chris-PA

Chris-PA

Where the Wild Things Are
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10,090
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PA
Always a pleasure to see a man work when he's good and enjoys what he does. I love the effective tools made from simple objects.

I've had good success with the eye bolt and Scotchbrite, but was always worried I'd contact the bore with the eye bolt - I used longer pieces and never did, but I like that better. If I ever do another I may borrow that idea.
 
PogoInTheWoods

PogoInTheWoods

Don't forget about the alligators...
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What really got me started doing it this way was after I ruined a couple. If they have a scratch that's thru the plating, the acid will eat at the underlying aluminum and the scratch becomes a gulley. Same for pits, the acid gets in the pits, and it eats and eats.......

Same for the ports if one isn't careful. Petroleum jelly around the ports is a good idea if you're doing the acid thing aggressively to a large area, say with a cotton ball vs. the q-tip approach.

So who has the magic for doin' this the redneck way with a Dremel and a coupla beers? I seem to have misplaced my Foredam.
 
PogoInTheWoods

PogoInTheWoods

Don't forget about the alligators...
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Now ****......get on ebay. Foredoms ain't too expensive.

I hear ya. I just don't do enough of this stuff on a regular basis to justify pulling that trigger yet. You mentioned the convenience of the foot pedal...

What ballbark rpm's were you turning?...I mean loosely, generally speaking.
 
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TPA

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Texas
How do you think a fine grit flap wheel would do for this application? Or even one of those flap wheel scotch brite combo wheels?
 
rwoods

rwoods

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What really got me started doing it this way was after I ruined a couple. If they have a scratch that's thru the plating, the acid will eat at the underlying aluminum and the scratch becomes a gulley. Same for pits, the acid gets in the pits, and it eats and eats.......

Thanks for sharing this. I just wish I had known about this method two cylinders ago as I learned the above the hard way. As you said just a little scratch and you have a gully - a pit and you have a bigger pit. The acid seems to like fresh aluminum better than the transfer. Thanks again. Ron
 
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