Vapour blasting.. Not!

Mr Gazza · 23-04-2020, 10:38 AM

I am trying to clean up a Commando head during a couple of days lull in work.
My favourite would be to vapour blast it, which in my experience is a brilliant way to clean it and leave a lovely smooth peened finish which seems to be very resilient to oil staining and looks nice and bright and fresh.
I don't think I can get it anywhere to blast it right now, so I have had it in the ultra-sound cleaner and also scrubbed it with clutch and brake cleaner. It's now spotless and void of oils and crud, but it's still not bright. It's in the dishwasher at the moment for a cycle to see what that does.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to what I could use to brighten up the cast finish alloy? It's getting between the fins that's the tricky bit.

Thanks in advance.

Darren69 · 23-04-2020, 10:47 AM

This stuff's ok: -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosol-S...QAAOSwMmBVj-2r

Toothpaste is said to work but I have no recommended brand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSucs1RMdt4

slob · 23-04-2020, 11:07 AM

try wiping with a rag moistened with acf50

Mr Gazza · 23-04-2020, 11:21 AM

Thanks for telling me about Autosol Darren. I don't think I've been without a tube of that for 45 years! (Not the same tube). I have already tried a toothbrush and Autosol on the big flat area on top of the rockerbox with reasonable results, I'm sure it would get there with time and elbow grease. It's between the fins that is going to be tricky. I do like the look of those little brass wire brushes though.

Cheers Rob, I've Never used acf50. Would that brighten grey alloy?

slob · 23-04-2020, 11:35 AM

it might, the dullness is (to some degree at least) due to a very thin layer of oxide, which acf should remove.

Darren69 · 23-04-2020, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Thanks for telling me about Autosol Darren. I don't think I've been without a tube of that for 45 years! (Not the same tube). I have already tried a toothbrush and Autosol on the big flat area on top of the rockerbox with reasonable results, I'm sure it would get there with time and elbow grease. It's between the fins that is going to be tricky. I do like the look of those little brass wire brushes though.

Cheers Rob, I've Never used acf50. Would that brighten grey alloy?

Well you didn't say you had tried it!

Anything that removes Aluminium oxide would work, even Colgate Whitening! I've never tried ACF50 myself either. You might find small bottle brushes will get between the fins better than a toothbrush.

Nasher · 23-04-2020, 12:14 PM

Dishwasher works for me, but only whilst Lady Nasher is out.

Do you have any sharp sand, what you use for brick Mortor?

I've put small parts in a bag of it before and rolled it around in my hands for a while.
It works just like a mechanical 'Rumbler' if you've ever seen one.
But you do need to clean it all out properly of course.

I've often wondered if you could use something else. I have some Aluminium Oxide blasting media in the garage which I picked up for this very task and never tried it.

Nasher

utopia · 23-04-2020, 02:10 PM

I've used a dremel fitted with a little black nylon brush in the past.
I've tried this in conjunction with various liquids and pastes, including paraffin, gt80, autosol thinned with oil and suchlike.
The brushes come in either the std radial disc form, or as a cup, or as a pencil type brush, some or all of which might get into your particular nooks and crannies.

I've also used small bottle brushes by hand, again in conjunction with the same range of liquids and pastes.
Just watch out that the wire core doesn't scratch .. some bottle brushes are more susceptible than others in this regard.

bigredduke · 23-04-2020, 06:51 PM

Have you tried fine emery cloth wrapped round your todger?

Should fit nicely between the fins Gary

Albie · 23-04-2020, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredduke

Have you tried fine emery cloth wrapped round your todger?

Should fit nicely between the fins Gary

I tried that in my m900 barrels .... Bit of a squeeze to be honest

StevieL · 23-04-2020, 07:11 PM

Be very careful with those ' little brass wire brushes ' that you like the look of, put them near the head and you will have a brass coloured head very quickly, ask me how I know........
Atb S.

bigredduke · 23-04-2020, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albie

I tried that in my m900 barrels .... Bit of a squeeze to be honest

Perhaps you should change your forum name to Albie 450?

Mr Gazza · 23-04-2020, 07:53 PM

Well I fished the head out of the dishwasher along with the breakfast things and I'm well impressed with the job it did. Even cleaner than after the ultra-sound cleaning. This will be a go to method in the future. Unfortunately although it was clean and a uniform colour, instead of the blotches, it is now a uniform slightly darker grey than before.
A couple of sessions in the ultra-sound again, has reduced the darkness a bit.
A little practice with the Autosol and toothbrush again did induce a faint shine so there's hope with plenty of elbow grease, I found a splash of vinegar seemed to help?

I have plenty of sharp sand as it happens Nasher, I had two jumbo bags delivered today. These are now under armed guard overnight.

I can see the sand in the bag working on smaller parts, but the head is too large I think.
I know what you mean by a rumbler or tumbler. They use lozenge shaped abrasive blocks and do a fantastic job of cleaning parts up. It did occur to me that maybe an ultra-sound cleaner could be employed in a similar way, perhaps using ceramic beads in a liquid medium.
It's not something I am going to try with a borrowed U-S cleaner, but I reckon it might work with the beads and workpiece in a cloth bag suspended in the vibrating liquid medium.

I think I have some of those cup brushes Jeff, so I might try that too.

thank you for the heads up with the brass brushes too Stevie.

As for the todger method, The thing is BRD, I want to get into the fins as far as possible and I think I would be limited by length. Some of those fins are a good two inches deep! Besides which the Norton is already fu…..

bigredduke · 23-04-2020, 08:14 PM

:chuc kle:

I suppose fins aren't what they used to be.

23-04-2020, 08:42 PM

Not sure that ACF50 would help. I had some patches of lost paint and powdery corrosion on my Suzuki VX800 cases and applied ACF. The corrosion was killed but the bare alloy went a noticeably dark grey as a result.

Brass wire brushes do a very fine job of 'plating' rough surfaces: I found that just yesterday as I cleaned a corroded steel exhaust retainer. However, given that a Commando is a classic i.e. old, you could claim it has a bronze head!

I'm just wondering if boiling in baking soda might brighten alloy? Or do I mean washing soda?

Nick

23-04-2020, 10:38 AM	#1
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,805	Vapour blasting.. Not! I am trying to clean up a Commando head during a couple of days lull in work. My favourite would be to vapour blast it, which in my experience is a brilliant way to clean it and leave a lovely smooth peened finish which seems to be very resilient to oil staining and looks nice and bright and fresh. I don't think I can get it anywhere to blast it right now, so I have had it in the ultra-sound cleaner and also scrubbed it with clutch and brake cleaner. It's now spotless and void of oils and crud, but it's still not bright. It's in the dishwasher at the moment for a cycle to see what that does. Has anyone got any suggestions as to what I could use to brighten up the cast finish alloy? It's getting between the fins that's the tricky bit. Thanks in advance. __________________

23-04-2020, 10:47 AM	#2
Darren69 Transmaniacon MOC Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Sutton In Ashfield Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 6,022	This stuff's ok: - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosol-S...QAAOSwMmBVj-2r Toothpaste is said to work but I have no recommended brand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSucs1RMdt4 __________________ Roast Beef Monster! Termignoni and Bucci - Italian for pipe and slippers! S4 Fogarty, S4R 07T, 748, Series 1 Mirage

23-04-2020, 11:21 AM	#4
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,805	Thanks for telling me about Autosol Darren. I don't think I've been without a tube of that for 45 years! (Not the same tube). I have already tried a toothbrush and Autosol on the big flat area on top of the rockerbox with reasonable results, I'm sure it would get there with time and elbow grease. It's between the fins that is going to be tricky. I do like the look of those little brass wire brushes though. Cheers Rob, I've Never used acf50. Would that brighten grey alloy? __________________

23-04-2020, 12:14 PM	#7
Nasher Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Portsmouth Bike: M900 Posts: 1,510	Dishwasher works for me, but only whilst Lady Nasher is out. Do you have any sharp sand, what you use for brick Mortor? I've put small parts in a bag of it before and rolled it around in my hands for a while. It works just like a mechanical 'Rumbler' if you've ever seen one. But you do need to clean it all out properly of course. I've often wondered if you could use something else. I have some Aluminium Oxide blasting media in the garage which I picked up for this very task and never tried it. Nasher __________________ Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell is afraid I'll take over.

23-04-2020, 07:53 PM	#13
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,805	Well I fished the head out of the dishwasher along with the breakfast things and I'm well impressed with the job it did. Even cleaner than after the ultra-sound cleaning. This will be a go to method in the future. Unfortunately although it was clean and a uniform colour, instead of the blotches, it is now a uniform slightly darker grey than before. A couple of sessions in the ultra-sound again, has reduced the darkness a bit. A little practice with the Autosol and toothbrush again did induce a faint shine so there's hope with plenty of elbow grease, I found a splash of vinegar seemed to help? I have plenty of sharp sand as it happens Nasher, I had two jumbo bags delivered today. These are now under armed guard overnight. I can see the sand in the bag working on smaller parts, but the head is too large I think. I know what you mean by a rumbler or tumbler. They use lozenge shaped abrasive blocks and do a fantastic job of cleaning parts up. It did occur to me that maybe an ultra-sound cleaner could be employed in a similar way, perhaps using ceramic beads in a liquid medium. It's not something I am going to try with a borrowed U-S cleaner, but I reckon it might work with the beads and workpiece in a cloth bag suspended in the vibrating liquid medium. I think I have some of those cup brushes Jeff, so I might try that too. thank you for the heads up with the brass brushes too Stevie. As for the todger method, The thing is BRD, I want to get into the fins as far as possible and I think I would be limited by length. Some of those fins are a good two inches deep! Besides which the Norton is already fu….. __________________ Last edited by Mr Gazza; 23-04-2020 at 07:57 PM..

23-04-2020, 11:07 AM	#3
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,710	try wiping with a rag moistened with acf50

23-04-2020, 11:35 AM	#5
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,710	it might, the dullness is (to some degree at least) due to a very thin layer of oxide, which acf should remove.

23-04-2020, 02:10 PM	#8
utopia No turn left unstoned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: leicester Bike: M750 Posts: 4,545	I've used a dremel fitted with a little black nylon brush in the past. I've tried this in conjunction with various liquids and pastes, including paraffin, gt80, autosol thinned with oil and suchlike. The brushes come in either the std radial disc form, or as a cup, or as a pencil type brush, some or all of which might get into your particular nooks and crannies. I've also used small bottle brushes by hand, again in conjunction with the same range of liquids and pastes. Just watch out that the wire core doesn't scratch .. some bottle brushes are more susceptible than others in this regard.

23-04-2020, 06:51 PM	#9
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,546	Have you tried fine emery cloth wrapped round your todger? Should fit nicely between the fins Gary

23-04-2020, 07:11 PM	#11
StevieL Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cromer Bike: M900ie Posts: 127	Be very careful with those ' little brass wire brushes ' that you like the look of, put them near the head and you will have a brass coloured head very quickly, ask me how I know........ Atb S.

23-04-2020, 08:14 PM	#14
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,546	:chuc kle: I suppose fins aren't what they used to be. Last edited by bigredduke; 23-04-2020 at 08:16 PM..

23-04-2020, 08:42 PM	#15
The Clockie Guest Posts: n/a	Not sure that ACF50 would help. I had some patches of lost paint and powdery corrosion on my Suzuki VX800 cases and applied ACF. The corrosion was killed but the bare alloy went a noticeably dark grey as a result. Brass wire brushes do a very fine job of 'plating' rough surfaces: I found that just yesterday as I cleaned a corroded steel exhaust retainer. However, given that a Commando is a classic i.e. old, you could claim it has a bronze head! I'm just wondering if boiling in baking soda might brighten alloy? Or do I mean washing soda? Nick