Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
-----
Bright dip or what?
HELP!
I have a bundle of aluminum trim from a 69 Ford pickup I am restoring, that I have glass beaded to remove the Bright Dip anodizing. I have attempted to buff the alum. and have found it incredibly labor intensive! Is there another low cost alternative to this restoration?
Thank you !
Michael Burns- Sacramento, California
Do not glass bead and pound the hard aluminum oxide into the soft pure aluminum. Instead strip the old oxide off in 6 oz/gal Sodium Hydroxide ( ⇦liquid caustic soda in bulk on Amazon [affil link] ) and 2 oz/gal Sodium Gluconate ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] at about 120 °F temperature (never over 140 °F !). When the gassing seems uniform all over the part, wait another 30 seconds and remove, rinse well, then dip in 30% nitric acid at room temperature, then rinse again, dry, then polish and buff. Proprietary compounds are available ready-to-use to replace the caustic soda and nitric acid.
Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services
Garner, North Carolina
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread