Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cleaning aluminum reels

This is topic Cleaning aluminum reels in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004777

Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 04-11-2003, 12:12 PM:

I have some reels that had been stored in a damp cellar. They've become corroded. Is there an easy way to clean these?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-11-2003, 12:15 PM:

Maybe the same cleaners used for aluminum cookwear?

Might try using a dishwasher with dishwasher detergent (no other metals in there at the same time!).

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 04-11-2003, 12:30 PM:

quote:
the same cleaners used for aluminum cookwear?

Wouldn`t that be rather uncomfortable to wear while cooking?

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 04-11-2003, 12:51 PM:

We use acetone to clean (and prep) aluminum on aircraft. It works very well. If there is a lot of corrosion you may want to chip the bulk of it off with a paint scraper first.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 04-11-2003, 04:38 PM:

Ok, now we've got them clean how do we UNbend them? Anyone have a clever way to straighten out bent reels?

Frank

Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 04-11-2003, 07:20 PM:

I guess a wood blodk & rubber mallet would do or somehow step on one of the inside flanges & careflully bend them by hand.
As for removing corrosion,sand them by hand & wipe them off with a towel or rag or use steel wool or a scouring pad.

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 04-11-2003, 07:42 PM:

I bought an aluminum reel off Ebay that was very badly corroded.
My son works for a chemical sales supplier and got me a gallon of ALUMINUM CLEANER. This stuff is very caustic and you wouldn’t want to get it on you but anyway I sprayed some of that stuff on the reel, waited about 10 minutes and rinsed. Then polished it with Steel wool and washed and dried it off good and was amazed at the results. That reel looked just like a new one.
As far as straightening the reels out be careful if they are 2K reels. They will break if not handled carefully. Don’t try to bend it a whole lot at one time and you should be ok.

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 04-11-2003, 09:10 PM:

I've used Simple Green "Lime Scale" remover (it's in a spray bottle).

Posted by Michael West (Member # 428) on 04-11-2003, 10:55 PM:

i have a few of them, a couple were too badly bent so i cut them in half and made a clock - it is so cool!
i used an sos pad to clean them.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-14-2003, 09:28 AM:

Acid-containing cleaners are often used for removing rust or corrosion. But extreme care is needed when using them! [Eek!]

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/resdocs/scisafe/moescisaf.pdf

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 04-14-2003, 12:45 PM:

quote:
Acid-containing cleaners are often used for removing rust or corrosion. But extreme care is needed when using them!

You are very right about that John, that shit I used you dont wont to breath in. But my reels were corroded pretty bad so I decided to bring out the big guns.

Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 04-15-2003, 11:14 AM:

I've used a fine-wire steel brush attachment in combination with a Dewalt cordless drill on all of my old Goldberg reels and old Drive-In speakers. The result was remarkable. They looked like Chrome by the time I was done. You have to use a very fine wire or it will start to shave off small bits of the metal.

I even used it to strip the paint off one of my Brenkerts.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-15-2003, 12:19 PM:

There is a company called Duragloss that makes several aluminum cleaning products meant for cars. We've used their #870 product...it comes in a can and is a fibrous felt-type material soaked with cleaner...you tear off a small piece of the felt and clean away. It works well, and you can put the felt back in the can, keep it and re-use it until it's black with crud!