Cheap aluminum CLEANING

Hi all,
I can't remember where this came from but I cut and pasted it a while ago. Credit goes to "rchawaii".

"Extreme Cleaning smaller Aluminum Parts
Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:59 am by rchawaii | Comments (6)
Hi all. I promised I would post this in another message so here goes..

"One of my past hobbies was radio controlled airplanes. One issue is gunking of the heads of the engines with the glo fuel and cleaning of the engines which are all cast aluminum parts for the most part.

"This is a mini tutorial on how to clean all those parts from tiny to about the size of an 8" plate or so. Larger parts can be can this way also, but youll have to make a larger type of container, which I really dont recommend. (You'll understand soon)."

PARTS CLEANING TUTORIAL


PURPOSE:

Cleaning small aluminum Parts

ITEMS YOU NEED:

1. A Large Crock Pot (This will NEVER be used again for FOOD Consumption-Keep it in your shops!) Mark the pot with (POISON, DO NOT USE!!)
2. Anti Freeze
3. Parts
4. Remove anything but aluminum off your parts.
4. Time


STEPS:

A. Fill pot with Anti-Freeze (Not the eco friendly kind ok-just enough to cover your parts)
B. Place parts in the Freeze
C. Cover Pot with lid.
D. Place the pot in a WELL VENTILATED area
E. Plug In Pot
F. Turn on LOW Setting
G. Cook the Freeze for 24 hours.
H. Turn OFF pot
I. Unplug pot
J. Let Pot Cool
K. Uncover pot
L. Remove Parts
M. Wipe all parts clean
N. Discard Used Freeze (If all parts are clean) OR Optionally
N. Replace parts that are still dirty, return to steps above.
O. Clean and Close pot (Keep away from any food source or animal.)
P. Clean parts well, lube as needed, replace, smile, come back here and thank me lol (Just Kidding)

NOTE: For very small parts, you will need to make a soup can container with holes punched in it for a strainer so you dont lose parts. Adding a wire handle helps retrieve it form the freeze (With a Utensil, don't get burned)


A FEW PRECAUTIONS:
Wear Gloves when working with Anti-Freeze in this way
NEVER pour anti-freeze in drains, on ground, etc. Dispose of it in a container or whatever your laws permit, suggest.
Pets DIE DIE DIE from DRINKING THE SWEET ANTIFREEZE!! Keep Pets AWAY.
LEAVING the crock pot on over 24 hours is NOT SUGGESTED.
ANTI-FREEZE will RUIN many other things, like rubber seals, etc. REMOVE THEM
ANTI-FREEZE Does NOT Remove RUST.

I am not responsible for any damage you do. I DO NOT recommend you try this for yourself


I hope this becomes useful. It really should be a sticky, it's an invaluable way to save TONS of time and frustration and your parts will SHINE.

 

Lemmon juice works just as well.

 

I used lime juice on a valve cover once because the store was out of lemon juice and it worked even better (higher citric acid content.)

"Old-school" anti-freeze is ethylene glycol. The glycerine isn't cleaning anything, so you would probably get the same effect boiling them in ethyl alcohol for 24 hours.

Lemon (and/or lime) juice takes considerably less time and won't kill Rover if he sticks his face in it. Plus the resultant smell is a bit more "human friendly."