Tube cleaning tricks?

[CZSteve]

Please share any tube cleaning tricks you may have.

We just pulled our 24' Landau off the water where it's kept floating in a slip; plan on doing some annual maintenance and cleaning during the next couple of weeks before taking back to the slip.

I've already picked up a gallon of Napa Aluminum Brightener to use but what is the best way to clean thru the accumulated crud that has built up on the tubes. We cruised thru a car wash and hit the tubes briefly while they were still wet to avoid the crud from drying up - overall they're not too bad but we do have a some build-up and a water line that's a bit rough.

Best initial cleaner before using the Napa Aluminum Brightener?
Any good drill attachment for getting the rough stuff without too much wear to the aluminum?
Recommendations for using the Napa Brightener? Dilute and use a hand or pump sprayer?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Tube cleaning tricks?

Get a gal of coil cleaner from a air conditioner supply-
Spray it on (pump sprayer) & hose it off-
Will NOT shine but gets the crud off-

 

[junkman41]

Re: Tube cleaning tricks?

I used toon-brite and it got the crud off my toons, spray on hose off, and like boss said they wont shine but they will be clean

 

[calvinator]

Re: Tube cleaning tricks?

I've tried em all. For cleaning and lake gunk removal, I use 75/25 muratic acid/water.

For prettying them up, I use the Napa Aluminum Brightner.

The outcome is my toons are satin silver.

I did polish a few spots with Alumi-brite and 2500 RPM polisher. Came out real nice and shiny, but my old toons are dinged and dented. Shiny don't look good on them.

 

[guardrail22]

Re: Tube cleaning tricks?

I am working on an 89 Lowe for a dock boat. Sharkhide cleaner took off the dirt, shining them up is the challenge. Planning to use Sharkhide coating when done.