12 replies to this topic

[peter m]

Just wondering if anyone knows what i can do. I had a dozen or so alloy wheels that were a bit dull and needed cleaning. I thought i would put them in my wifes jewelery cleaner. I did this and when i pulled the rims out after 30 or so seconds they were black and it looks like they have ozidised aswell.
Have i ruined them? Will the super glue still stick as good when i glue tires on?

If they are not ruin does anyone know what i can do to get them all shiny again?

peter

Edited by peter m, 01 March 2010 - 06:27 PM.

[munter]

I am so pleased someone admits to a stuff up.....and I was thinking everyone here was next to perfection.

As to the wheels? I am no chemist but I would say there are few things you could do.

possibles
i) media blast them
ii) scrub them individually
iii) put them against a wire/buffing wheel
iv) find another chemical that takes the black crap away, try an acid product maybe lemon juice and soak and scrub
v) someone else will have an idea

regards

ps no I dont think they are ruined

[peter m]

i guess next time i will try doing it one at a time instead of putting a dozen or so in.

i might try and soak them in coke! Its good for rotting your teeth away and cleaning sinks!

But still looking for more ideas if people have any!

[Ember]

I wouldn't think they're ruined. But other than an alloy polish I wouldn't know what to suggest.

Munter you've got me intrigued with this suggestion:

munter, on Mar 1 2010, 07:01 PM, said:

i) media blast them

Does that mean he should send the story to Today Tonight, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes who will name and shame the wheels into shining? Or just hit them with some meths and newsprint?

Embs

[dangermouse]

peter m, on Mar 1 2010, 06:32 PM, said:

i guess next time i will try doing it one at a time instead of putting a dozen or so in.

I am so with you there - ruined half a dozen tyre moulds, thinking I could make tyres out of a new compound - why I didn't just try it in one first is beyond me...

cheers
DM

[Rob]

As a matter of interest, what kind of cleaner did you use? Caustic soda for argument sake doesn't act kindly to aluminum.

Perhaps the cleaner is a mild caustic solution?

Wheres Rick when you need him!

Edited by Rob, 01 March 2010 - 07:52 PM.

[Bulsara]

Try soaking them in "CLR". It available at all supermarkets. It is used to remove the black residue from aluminium kettles among other things. It is usually in the hardware section and comes in a grey plastic bottle.

My missus would have killed me if I had used her jewellery cleaner, are the bruises getting better?

Edited by Bulsara, 01 March 2010 - 09:55 PM.

[peter m]

Bulsara, on Mar 1 2010, 10:23 PM, said:

Try soaking them in "CLR". It available at all supermarkets. It is used to remove the black residue from aluminium kettles among other things. It is usually in the hardware section and comes in a grey plastic bottle.

My missus would have killed me if I had used her jewellery cleaner, are the bruises getting better?

That sounds like a good idea with the clr, i will go down to the hardware and get a bottle when i can see out of my swollen eyes


In answer to your question rob i am not sure if there is costic soda in the cleaner because it doesn't say, but it probably has though!

[Ember]

On the CLR side of things. You can get it at the supermarket. It'll be cheaper there than the hardware store.

[munter]

"Media blast them" is ..... I would like to blast the media but well its like this...

Instead of using grit as in sand blasting there are other options of what to blast with
ie plastic,fruit pips,ground walnut shell(?) it is softer and less harmful to the subject.

Very organic today!

now back to my tea and toast

[Ember]

Aaaah. Thankyou for the explanation.

Couldn't quite work out how you'd get the journalists through a nozzle under pressure.

[Bulsara]

Ember, on Mar 2 2010, 01:13 PM, said:

Aaaah. Thankyou for the explanation.

Couldn't quite work out how you'd get the journalists through a nozzle under pressure.

You put them in a blender first.

[rick1776]

Hmmm try silvo or brasso. My guess is that you "cleaned" them in a cheap single frequency ultra sonic cleaner and used water + detergent? The single frequency cleaner doesnt frequency sweep and so you get localised hot spots in the bath. These hot spots literally cause micro explosions so that you have an environment that has all the ingrediants to speed up the oxidation process. Youre not going to get a lot of change from $800-1200 for a proper ultrasonic cleaner.

Send me all your gold and jewellery and I'll clean it. You'll get it back honest