Aluminium Marked by Caustic Soda

sjws1888 · 6 Aug 2015

Hi

I used caustic soda to clear a slow draining shower. When I did this, it spat out of the plug hole and went on the shower enclosure metal parts (I assume aluminium). This has left the metal marked - I've attached a photo - it was hard to get it to come out on camera but its very noticeable (trust me) when you actually see it.

Is there anything that can be done to fix this? Bonus points to anyone who can think of something I can do quickly, like say before my wife gets home from work for example

Cheers

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Crystalclear · 6 Aug 2015

Some wheel cleaners work OK, but beware; some so-called aluminium wheel cleaners are only for cleaning the proctective laquer or clear powder coating and aren't actually designed to work on bare aluminium.

A neutralising wash of dilute acetic acid (or ordinary household white vinegar) is needed immediately 'post caustic splash'.

sjws1888 · 6 Aug 2015

thanks Crystalclear.
What sort of wheel cleaner would I be looking for? Do you mean like the stuff used for cleaning allow wheels on cars?

cheers

jj4091 · 6 Aug 2015

A bit of Brasso & plenty of elbow grease should polish it up.

sjws1888 · 6 Aug 2015

thanks jj4091.

Having been googling it for the last little while, I know wonder if the shower is made from lacquered aluminium and whether the marks are due to the caustic soda taking the lacquer off.
If that is the case then I wonder if I should buy some metal lacquer to put on it? Any thoughts on whether that or Brasso as suggested by jj4091 would be best?

footprints · 6 Aug 2015

Sorry but that is almost certain to be anodized aluminum, anodizing is a similar process to chrome or electroplating silverware, if it is damaged there is no way to patch it. You could polish like crazy with metal polish but the bare aluminum will corrode very fast once the plating has gone.

Burnerman · 6 Aug 2015

I'd be surprised if the surface was removed as quickly as that (unless the caustic has been there for a while)......I'd go for some gentle polishing with Solvol Autosol or similar, but you musn't polish the lacquer - or anodising- away.
(Say nowt - and when asked, say 'it must be soap staining, darling'

John

sjws1888 · 6 Aug 2015

Footprints - that sounds pretty worrying. The caustic soda was probably on there for at least half an hour so you reckon that would have taken the anodized outer layer off? So if it is made of anodized aluminium does that mean that it probably isn't lacquered then? And if so presumably my idea of getting some metal lacquer is probably no good for then?
So am I screwed on this one?

footprints · 6 Aug 2015

sjws1888 said:
Footprints - that sounds pretty worrying. The caustic soda was probably on there for at least half an hour so you reckon that would have taken the anodized outer layer off? So if it is made of anodized aluminium does that mean that it probably isn't lacquered then? And if so presumably my idea of getting some metal lacquer is probably no good for then?
So am I screwed on this one?

'Fraid so, even my Mrs who is a whizz with getting stains off things can't suggest anything.
How new is it? Any chance of getting a new bottom section?

foxhole · 8 Aug 2015

Caustic soda dissolves aluminum, the wife dropped cooker rings in a bucket of the stuff thinking it would degrease them, next day 1/2 had dissolved away.
You can't clean off the damage but could mask and spray with chrome paint.[or ali paint].
http://www.powertoolsdirect.com/pla...merchant_pla&gclid=CM2--Y2MmccCFQnLtAodp50EBw

empip · 8 Aug 2015

Research carried out at the wrong end of the 'scope ! Do it first !! Not after messing up yer kit.
Pay up and look big or small, depending on how you look at yourself - Anchor or not ?

-0-

Dave54 · 8 Aug 2015

In the old days we used to clean cast iron motorbike parts up with caustic soda. There was always a warning in mags like "Motorcycle Mechanics" not to try it on the ally bits as they dissolve. Didn't "Malcolm" in "Ogri" do that once?
The anodising is actually part of the aluminium, a layer of oxide, so the caustic unfortunately will have removed it.

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Aluminium Marked by Caustic Soda

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