>
> Drano is Sodium Hydroxide. It will not just etch your Aluminum, it will
> dissolve it completely and very fast. NaOH is the active chemical used to
> extract Al from Bauxite. Be very careful. If you want to clean Aluminum, I
> recommend Oxalic Acid, Phosphoric Acid, or Hydro-Fluoric Acid - All very
> dilute. BTW, all will cause great discomfort from skin contact (HF will also
> eat glass, steel and most other things fast - it's really not for amatuers
> unless it is really dilute). The caustic (NaOH) will do the same thing to
> your body that it does to Aluminum, in about the same time. BE CAREFUL!
>
Absolutely agree with you Tom. I wouldn't use it on copper or brass
either. Peronally I prefer TSP to NaOH anyway, for the reasons you
state regarding handling.
I've used "mag" wheel cleaner on aluminum.
One comment on NaOH though. A very dilute solution can be used on Al as
a pre-painting etch. Very dilute!
Roland
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