How to make alloy parts look new? Degreaser or cleaner recommendations.

[LeeRoy]

You can also buy alloy boat cleaner for alloy tinnies that comes up ok.

[andrew_mx83]

is that some sort of M-powered coffee table in the build?

[Supra967]

is that some sort of M-powered coffee table in the build?

It was, but my wife didn't share my artistic sense... been sitting in the workshop for over a year doing nothing. Want it? Postage wouldn't be that bad

[o_man_ra23]

Nice link on the home soda blaster. Might make myself a gravity pot version (upside down half a coke bottle or similar)

[mattysshop]

i use 'chemtech' workshop heavy duty degreaser... very very high concerntration of alkaline salts... i find that it does work better with a bit of water mixed in...

agitate it a little with a brush...

and a high pressure water blaster...


carful with is though.. prolonged contact with your hands will cause your skin to kinda melt off.. you won't realise it at the time... but within a few hours your hands feel 'tight' and smooth... then the next day your hands develop dandruff..

i find that garnet or sand blasting will leave the surface sooo porus... even clean hands mark it, and make it look cr@ppy in a matter of moments after fumbling them around an engine bay...

[_gear2]

Slightly on topic...Has anyone successfully built one of those homemade ultrasonic cleaners?

[andrew_mx83]

It was, but my wife didn't share my artistic sense... been sitting in the workshop for over a year doing nothing. Want it? Postage wouldn't be that bad

ive thought about doing one, but as much as i like 7m's the block is not uber sexy

now an old lambo v12 would be another story


thanks for the offer but i have about motors in the shed if i wanna make one -and id free up some room lol

[TERRA Operative]

I've been looking at getting one of those ultrasonic cleaner kits that Jaycar have (but from electus because it's cheaper).
Just gotta get around to it.....

[_gear2]

I've been looking at getting one of those ultrasonic cleaner kits that Jaycar have (but from electus because it's cheaper).
Just gotta get around to it.....

I'm assuming your referring to this kit

http://www.electusdistribution.com.a...AT&SUBCATID=92

do you know what frequency is required to clean valves and all the carbon that builds up in cylinder heads? (I mean would one of these kits be good enough?)

[TERRA Operative]

Dunno. I was just going to build it and see how it went. The transducer is pretty beefy looking in any case. Maybe a dial could be added to trim the frequency for different jobs?

[_gear2]

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112072/article.html - well this answered all my questions. (its the article for the same kit jaycar uses) explains why it sweeps the frequency - annoying though that it can only be run only for a max of 10 minutes at a time.

[o_man_ra23]

What causes the 10 minute maximum?? I know that it would be programmed in to the micro, however if it is a limitation on the transistors, then a simple heatsink or higher rated FETs would solve that issue, and then a slight re-program to extend the timing factor to allow say a maximum of 10 hours (experimentation would be needed to work out how long is effective). Of course, it could be the case that after 10 minutes the transducer is going to burn out, in which case you could program a cool down period in to allow bursts of 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. It is after all just a PIC which is used to control it, so coding is likely done in C# or similar.

Looks like a good investment though, I think I might get one and rebuild my W58 to shiny new...

[TERRA Operative]

^^^ Exactly what I was thinking. I'll have to buy one and monitor temperatures etc with it running. See how far we can push the thing.

Destructive testing is fun...

[andrew_mx83]

pust

is that somewhere between pushing it and busting it? lol

[timbosaurus]

I got a small sand blasting cabinet for $150 which came with the gun etc, and use glass beads that were about $20 a bag.

Alloy comes up like new, I'll take some pics tmrw...