what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

[heyitswebb]

My pontoons on my party bardge have turned dull. What can I do to bring the shine back to new condition? thanks Tim

 

[delta breeze]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

aluma bright will brighten the pontoons but they will not have a polished look.

 

[MrDumb]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

Go to your local HVAC Supply house and buy some "PINK" condensor coil cleaner ( I think it is called hyrdo-chloric acid). It will make them look like new. Dillute 50/50 and by the way do not get this stuff on you!!!!!!

 

[WHITEBOYY32]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

you can also do like i did, go to wal-mart and buy some orange blast wheel cleaner. i used it to clean and restore a bass tracker pro-18 and it looked awful. it was a 1994 model and had never had anything done to it at all. it was almost past going. it is called orange blast wheel cleaner and it costs about 3 dollars a bottle. listen, when it turns your pontoons white don't be alarmed ok, all acid does this to aluminum. after you get them cleaned then buff the white off them with rubbing or polishing compound and then do them with mothers polish, they will look like they were never put in the water i promise. i just have got finished with my tracker and it now looks great, and i got it for 2500 dollars !!!!! it looks and runs like new, what a deal. see ya paul.

 

[red10]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

you probably could use a brillo pad or s.o.s pads i've seen them work good on a bass tracker, don't know if its the best idea

 

[bolted4]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

Mothers does make a decent product which I used on various aluminums, and other metals, worked real good on my fully polished aluminum rims on my car, (mirror polish) comes in a little can, maybe 8oz? Never tried on a pontoon. Lot of auto sotes and department stores carry it.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

Don't know much about boats...but have been in the chemical business for over 20 years. The pink acids are almost always phosphoric, and will work OK but are slow. Do not use any product containing hydrochloric or muriatic as they will darken aluminum. The correct acid is hydrofloric...this is what is in the aluminum and mag wheel cleaners that you buy at Wallyworld.<br /><br />Go to your local janitorial supply house and ask for an aluminum brightener. Be aware that hydrofloric is exceedingly mean stuff...do not use without safety glasses and good long rubber gloves.

 

[flashback]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

Ten-four on the Hydrofloric being mean stuff, it loves to eat your bones, seems to have an apetite for calcium, years ago I used to use it to etch tile floors, to make them slip resistant....It will sure brighten aluminum though...........

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

flashback.....yes it will. In a way I hesitate to recommend it. I used to sell it in 55 gal. drums to trucking companies...until the company I worked for refused to carry it any more, simply because of the potential liability. It WILL hurt you if proper safety precautions are not taken.

 

[MrDumb]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

I have been using that stuff for years cleaning AC condensor coils? I hope I do not get some weird diseas or something! I know one I used that stuff and the sprayer handle leaked and my fingernails all turned black and blue!!

 

[Lovetopontoon]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

SOS pad and elbow grease will have those pontoons shining like new. Its just time consuming.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: what cleans aluminum pontoons ?

MrDumb...coil cleaner is generally phosphoric acid and does not present nearly the hazard that hydrofloric does. Still...wear gloves and your fingernails will thank you