How do you clean red clay off aluminum
sable812
Reg. Feb 2004
Posted 2005-09-05 9:15 PM (#29971)
Subject: How do you clean red clay off aluminum


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Location: Stem NC		It has been there over 2 months. I had an accident and could not clean it off. Now I can't budge the spots on the trailer. I have tried the normal car cleaning stuff and Cameo aluminium cleaner. No reults with either. Help
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Reg
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2005-09-06 6:23 AM (#29974 - in reply to #29971)
Subject: RE: How do you clean red clay off aluminum


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Originally written by sable812 on 2005-09-05 9:15 PM

It has been there over 2 months. I had an accident and could not clean it off. Now I can't budge the spots on the trailer. I have tried the normal car cleaning stuff and Cameo aluminium cleaner. No reults with either. Help


I don't know the answer, but there are ways to find out (-:
I assume you've got rid of the lumps and clumps, if so you are probably left with a color that is now (chemically) a part of the finish, perhaps in a way similar to the coloring of anodised aluminum.
You may have a choice between only two options, both involving removal of the colored layer, a) Chemical, e.g. "acid wash". b) Mechanical, e.g. abrasive.
I think I'd find out what the chemical composition of "red clay" is before going too far, though an acid wash at a truck stop might be a low cost and low risk option worth trying anyway.

Good Luck,

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MBRA518
Reg. Sep 2004
Posted 2005-09-06 6:33 AM (#29975 - in reply to #29974)
Subject: RE: How do you clean red clay off aluminum



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Originally written by Reg on 2005-09-06 7:23 AM

I think I'd find out what the chemical composition of "red clay" is before going too far, though an acid wash at a truck stop might be a low cost and low risk option worth trying anyway. Good Luck,

I don't know the answer to the question - but having been to PEI quite a few times (where red clay is abundent) It is usually a high iron content that gives red clay it's color - so it's basically rust.

One thing to try (as I haven't found a stain it will not remove yet) is a Mr. Clean eraser - no really - works on everything else. Like any cleaner, try it on a small space first to make sure it will not hurt the surface.

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Reg
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2005-09-06 7:04 AM (#29976 - in reply to #29975)
Subject: RE: How do you clean red clay off aluminum


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Originally written by MBRA518 on 2005-09-06 6:33 AM

Originally written by Reg on 2005-09-06 7:23 AM

I think I'd find out what the chemical composition of "red clay" is before going too far, though an acid wash at a truck stop might be a low cost and low risk option worth trying anyway. Good Luck,

I don't know the answer to the question - but having been to PEI quite a few times (where red clay is abundent) It is usually a high iron content that gives red clay it's color - so it's basically rust.

One thing to try (as I haven't found a stain it will not remove yet) is a Mr. Clean eraser - no really - works on everything else. Like any cleaner, try it on a small space first to make sure it will not hurt the surface.



Interesting...
I've done some filing and sawing of steel on the aluminum truck bed. Little red patches show up from time to time, but they seem to wash right off, not that I'm that fussy about the surface.

One thing about any abrasive method is that it is likely to leave bright polished spots. On a mill finish this could look worse than the colored spots - in the eye of the beholder, etc.
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