Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Should I use acid on my old aluminum boat? Lye is bad for aluminum?
January 18, 2010
Should I use Nitric Acid or Hydrofluoric Acid on my old pitted Aluminum boat? I hear you saying how bad Lye is for Aluminum.That's the main ingredient in oven cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and Drano ! Sodium Hydroxide(LYE). Also if I actually get this old thing shining again, Should I re-anodize it, or Clear coat it? I was also wondering about applying Teflon afterwards! What are your thoughts on all this ? I'm also a little concerned about the Acid eating around the rivets and possibly loosening them! Thanks!
Hobbyist - Lomita, California, USA
Lye (sodium hydroxide) will destroy aluminum. And skin and eyes. Nitric acid is very dangerous to use and will destroy any non-aluminum parts. Hydrofluoric acid is EXTREMELY dangerous and toxic.
Both will instantly destroy human flesh.
Stay away from chemicals altogether. If it were mine, I'd clean it with sandpaper and paint it. Any good automotive paint store can supply you with the correct paint and primer.
Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
January 19, 2010
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