Aluminium cleaning fluid

[ChenS]

Does anyone use one of these pink fluids(probably some sort of acid mixtures) to clean the surface of aluminium plates?
Any recommendation for a certain brand?
10X
C.

[MicroZone]

Acetone...that's it.

[weldingman24]

we use protex alclean at work if the material is really dirty. it works well on castings but it strips (eats?) the surface of the aluminum off. I know some tow truck drivers that use it to clean their aluminum flatbeds just don't ever get it on
your hands or clothes

[David R]

I use the pink stuff in a bottle. Well, I have a bottle of it, but always end up using a wire wheel, or a SS wire brush. I have had the bottle for 15 years if that tells ya anything.

Its at work, I will get the name today.
David

[ChenS]

Thanks David,

I've seen it stripping alluminium coatings and dirty manifolds casting in seconds without the need to scrub or brush , just "paint" with it on the work metal with regular paint or tooth brush and the piece comes out shiny,I guess it may be usefull for Ti oxides layers as a reducing agent but I may be wrong here.
P.S
I have one fluid for SS , its some sort of a strong acid , same procedure , wait 30min and then wipe with water and soap, it removes the greyish-blue-dark leftovers that present over and around the weld , very nice for headers jobs...

[CarmenElectrode]

acetone is nasty smelly stuff!! we carry EZ Wipes... individual wipes for cleaning, in a plastic canister. They're pretty popular, and one side is sort of rough for "scrubbing"

[ChenS]

Originally Posted by CarmenElectrode

acetone is nasty smelly stuff!! we carry EZ Wipes... individual wipes for cleaning, in a plastic canister. They're pretty popular, and one side is sort of rough for "scrubbing"

I have some too , they sometimes leave little fibers on sharp metal edges though.