I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (again)

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jt526
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I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (again)

Post by jt526 »

So I left my Thompson SG sitting in a ziplock with an inch or so of Purple Power cleaner/degreaser at the bottom of it (sprayed it to see what would happen to the carbon) for about two days and not only did it remove the Duracoat finish, but nuked the type III anodizing (looks like a splash anno'd paintball gun now) under the Duracoat and seriously eroded/etched/corroded the part that was actually soaking in the liquid. My own fault, it clearly warns of use on paint and aluminum on the bottle. Since the SG is so thick, no harm done, but I am betting that if I soaked my mite in there, it would be trashed.

It was an easy way to get the duracoat off though. Not one I'd recommend, but still. YMMV, but I wouldn't soak it. This was my first time using Purple Power, and it is an impressive cleaner/degreaser I must say.


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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by TROOPER »

Interesting segue;

First, thanks for the warning.

Second, CLR... "Calcium, Lime, Rust" remover... I used that on the baffles of my AAC Element with incredible results. Ziplock bag plus 2 minutes of gentle agitation. The carbon came off quickly and easily. It was literally an issue of wiping them with a paper towel after this.

I have asked on this forum if that is an appropriate cleaner that is safe for the baffles, but no definitive answer was given.

CLR seems to be effective at removing crud, but whether it is safe for Aluminum... I do not know. It might be worth looking into for the sole reason that it is effective within minutes.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by ick »

Great post. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to pictures.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by eastern_hunter »

Any basic (pH on the basic side of 7.0) material will eat aluminum. Makes Aluminum Hydroxide. Purple Power contains a base.

BAD thing to do to any aluminum part of a suppressor.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by seattlite »

what about this for cleaning aluminum: http://www.simplegreen.com/products_extreme_motor.php
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Bendersquint »

OP your can is fine you didn't kill the anodizing.

Purple Power and Simple Green will strip the dye and the dye only from the anodizing.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by epicdoom »

Bender is correct anodized layer remains intact it just has no color anymore. Sadly tho to reintroduce color back into the parts you will need to remove the anodized layer, re-anodize, color and reseal. Removing the anodized layer can be done with a caustic solution. Lye, easyoff oven cleaner works but you have to be carefull because lye will pit the parts if left to long. I prefer to use a comercial stripper designed for this, its much safer for the parts.
I have heard of people who claim to be able to recolor without re-anodizing they claim just going darker in color will work. I have not tried to recolor in that manner so I cant say if it works or not.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

Oh, the anodizing is gone from the one side based on the corrosion alone! The rest of it you're right, by nuked I meant the splash anno look. I'm not worried about the anno, that's what duracoat/alumahyde/paint it for. I'm just going to sand down the corroded exterior until it is smoother, hit it with some black alumahyde (i think, maybe a gray), sand it down, and then hit it again with a nice thick coat. Should look just like original. Maybe do it in FDE, who knows.

I pretty much assumed that Purple Power was like Simple Green or the orange stuff, which I've used before on Al suppressors without issue. That was my bad, but no harm done. I figured I would post up in case anyone does a search. I could see a real thin tube like my mite taking a real beating though.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Bendersquint »

jt526 wrote:Oh, the anodizing is gone from the one side based on the corrosion alone! The rest of it you're right, by nuked I meant the splash anno look. I'm not worried about the anno, that's what duracoat/alumahyde/paint it for. I'm just going to sand down the corroded exterior until it is smoother, hit it with some black alumahyde (i think, maybe a gray), sand it down, and then hit it again with a nice thick coat. Should look just like original. Maybe do it in FDE, who knows.

I pretty much assumed that Purple Power was like Simple Green or the orange stuff, which I've used before on Al suppressors without issue. That was my bad, but no harm done. I figured I would post up in case anyone does a search. I could see a real thin tube like my mite taking a real beating though.
How do you know the anodizing is gone?
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by epicdoom »

There is a way to tell if the anodized layer is gone but you cant tell by simply looking at it. You have to use an ohm meter to see. In the process of raising the oxide layer the part becomes non conductive meaning when you put a meter set on the Ohm scale it will read O.L or open. That doesn't mean grind the test leads into the metal you want to just touch it with the leads only the oxide layer prevents conduction the metal underneath is still very much conductive. When a part is anodized it not only raises a layer of oxide it also grows that layer into the metal. I would suggest cleaning any gunk off the area you suspect and test it with a meter. See pictures below this is an Aluminum engine head I anodized in black then re milled the sides for show the anodized part is non conductive while the re milled area is conductive.
Image
Image

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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Emilio »

Your Nitro engine? Nice posting there. :D
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Emilio »

jt526 wrote:Oh, the anodizing is gone from the one side based on the corrosion alone! The rest of it you're right, by nuked I meant the splash anno look. I'm not worried about the anno, that's what duracoat/alumahyde/paint it for. I'm just going to sand down the corroded exterior until it is smoother, hit it with some black alumahyde (i think, maybe a gray), sand it down, and then hit it again with a nice thick coat. Should look just like original. Maybe do it in FDE, who knows.

I pretty much assumed that Purple Power was like Simple Green or the orange stuff, which I've used before on Al suppressors without issue. That was my bad, but no harm done. I figured I would post up in case anyone does a search. I could see a real thin tube like my mite taking a real beating though.
I "heard" simple green is no the best for aluminum, I also use it on many things.

To repaint your can try airbrushing light coat of Gun Kote then bake. (satin too shinny if wanting mat)
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by rogerme »

All the chemicals are fine but IMHO nothing beats the soda blaster. Fast easy no damage.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

Image
Image
Image

As promised, here's pics. First one you can see the pitting. I scrubbed off the duracoat with a scotchbright. Took very little effort.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Bendersquint »

Why don't you have it reanodized?
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

Bendersquint wrote:Why don't you have it reanodized?
No reason to, I think I'll just hit it with Alumahyde. I'll knock down the pitting a bit with a light sandpaper, then spray it in matte black.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Bendersquint »

jt526 wrote:
Bendersquint wrote:Why don't you have it reanodized?
No reason to, I think I'll just hit it with Alumahyde. I'll knock down the pitting a bit with a light sandpaper, then spray it in matte black.
You realize what anodizing is right? It protects the metal and makes the surface more durable its not paint like any of the spray finished.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

Yep, i know, the part that is eaten off is only on the outside of the tube where it was directly laying in the purple power. Shouldn't be an issue. I think it'll be fine with just a coating. I'd have to spray it anyway to cover the pitting, or bead blast the hell out of it, which might look quite nice actually.

Maybe next time i clean it i'll send off to an annodizer.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Bendersquint »

jt526 wrote:Yep, i know, the part that is eaten off is only on the outside of the tube where it was directly laying in the purple power. Shouldn't be an issue. I think it'll be fine with just a coating. I'd have to spray it anyway to cover the pitting, or bead blast the hell out of it, which might look quite nice actually.

Maybe next time i clean it i'll send off to an annodizer.
I would recommend that strongly, anodizing was put on the tube for a reason, would have been cheaper to paint it but nowhere near the protection.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by Emilio »

Bendersquint wrote:
How do you know the anodizing is gone?
:mrgreen:
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

Emilio wrote:
Bendersquint wrote:
How do you know the anodizing is gone?
:mrgreen:
I'm going with the part that is exposed to oxygen (the pitted/corroded section on the lower 1/6th or so in the first pic) forms aluminum oxide when sitting on my kitchen counter, which I can then polish back off. If it was anodized, I shouldn't see any forming on the surface. I'll do the multimeter test once I have a chance, that looks cool. The annodizing looks to be gone on only about a 2 by 3 patch on the exterior. For the part that got eaten down to bare aluminum, just that smaller part at the bottom on pic 1, it is about an 1/8th of an inch thick there.
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by epicdoom »

Looks pretty bad but you may still be ok. I suspect its type III anodized and that leaves a good oxide layer in and out of the metals surface. .001 Min, most are typical .003 and even as much as .004 The meter test is probably the best test known I am going to see whats in purple power I didnt thing there was anything caustic in that stuff I use it to clean RC parts all the time mostly spray and wipe because I know it will leach the color from the parts you can sometimes see it on the rag is you let the stuff sit to long on the part so quick wipe and go is all I do. Anodizing is much tuffer then paint I suspect you will be doint touch ups quite a bit. I cant touch it because i dont have to proper paperwork or I would reanodize it for you free of charge Bender does have the needed papers and I have seen his work its very good.

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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

It was duracoated by the manufacturer in the first place, I appreciate the offer though! Now it is just a question of semi-gloss HK black or some other color.

Anodizing looks a lot like Type III, same gray-green color I am familiar with (but I am colorblind).

Thanks again for the offer, mostly posted anyone searching would see it. I could really see it doing a number on a mite or other thin aluminum tube, and trust me, if I had this stuff when trying to take down my mite I'd have used it. I've soaked that thing in everything under the sun to break it loose!
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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by epicdoom »

I'm personaly a fan of flat black Just mean looking IMO. I have been doing type II anodizing for many years I'm looking into type III just not sure I want to go to any added trouble when type II is nearly as good for most applications. I also prefer the choice of colors especially with RC parts and some parts for my motorcycle. Duracoat is a good finish I have done a bit of work with that. Powder coat another option for you. I bought the kit that Harbor frieght sells didn't reall ecpect much from it but its actually pretty damn good. At any rate Good luck whit whatever you choose to do.

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Re: I wouldn't soak aluminum suppressors in Purple Power (ag

Post by jt526 »

epicdoom wrote:I'm personaly a fan of flat black Just mean looking IMO. I have been doing type II anodizing for many years I'm looking into type III just not sure I want to go to any added trouble when type II is nearly as good for most applications. I also prefer the choice of colors especially with RC parts and some parts for my motorcycle. Duracoat is a good finish I have done a bit of work with that. Powder coat another option for you. I bought the kit that Harbor frieght sells didn't reall ecpect much from it but its actually pretty damn good. At any rate Good luck whit whatever you choose to do.

Joe
How does matte black do in the powder coat? For 75 bucks I can't see not giving that a try. Have you done aluminum with it? Thanks for the heads up there, I've got a few things I wouldn't mind powder coating.
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