lckirkland@juno.com wrote:
>
> am a relative newcomer to towertalk and I'm sure this has been covered
> in the past ad nausium but I will pose it again. I have an old TH6 that
> I picked recently that seems to be in great shape - except for heavy
> oxidation and discoloration. I think it must have been stored under a
> house on the damp ground. Other than steelwool or scotchbrite, is there
> some chemical cleaner that could be used to clean it up? I seem to
> recall welding shops that used some kind of aluminum cleaner prior to
> heliarc welding.
> 73's...Larry W4LK
>
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> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
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Hello, Larry.
I think you have come to the right place.
In years past one of my duties was heliarc welding. There was a product
called 'Weld-o" (real original, huh) which looked kinda like Pepto
Bismol in color and not quite as thick. It was used for de-ox'ing the
weld area prior to cleaning. Problem is, it was $20 a quart then.
There is a product carried by W W Grainger, an industrial supply house,
which is known as a 'foaming coil cleaner'. It is used for cleaning
aluminum heat exchangers in A/C's and stuff.
It is about the same color as the other stuff. Kinda pink. It costs
about $12 per gallon and you are directed to dilute it, so it goes a
long way.
It contains Phosphoric acid (???); can't really remember what.
Use common sense and safety and all should be OK.
It will make the aluminum sort of a white color and it will be clean.
Be sure to use a suitable ass'y lube, cuz as clean as this sstuff will
be, it will gall for sure.
73 de Steve, NJ4F
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
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