Jerome Yuzyk wrote:
>
> A friend brought me a Sunbeam "S" valve cover from the UK. It's pitted
> in various spots to about 1mm. Can the pits be filled prior to
> polishing the whole thing?
Jerome,
A few thoughts:
1. Filling the pits by heli-arc or TIG welding will, of course, work, but would be expensive
and troublesome.
2. Fill the pits with an epoxy like material. There are some aluminum colored epoxy like
products. I doubt that they will polish, but if the pits are small it might be "sufficient"
and not too noticeable.
4. There is a product used to "solder" aluminum. Called "lumniweld" . Seys that it is used
to "weld" aluminum, but it is not really welding in the classical sense because the base
material is not melted. I have used this and it is a bit tricky, but what you might be able
to use this. The idea is to fill the pits with this rod, (using a propane torch) then level
with a file, abrasive paper, then polish. Cleaning the pits prior to filling might be
troublesome, the aluminum need to be clean and oil free. The flux in the lumniweld rod breaks
down the aluminun surface oxides.
In any of these options the aluminum should be very clean. Common dishwasher detergent is a
pretty good degreaser. Some people, after cleaning the parts as best they can, place them in
a dishwasher. The combination of very hot water and alkaline detergent works well.
Good luck.
-Roger
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