lumphammer
Well-Known Member
Over the years our aluminium toe rail has lost its as new look and is looking a bit beaten up. Is there anything I can do to make it look less tatty?
Alumininium toe rail cleaning
- Thread starter lumphammer
- Start date
skip50
Well-Known Member
Look at the article in this months YM (am I allowed to mention YM on the PBO forum?). It is called something like 70 tips for use on your boat,and I am sure there is something about cleaning etc aluminium.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Automotive alloy wheel cleaner may be helpful, depends on exactly what the 'dirt' is. There is a strange effect on my mast, where the part that is always exposed to light is dark but the part covered by the sail cover is much brighter. I have never found anything that will brighten up the dark part.
Edit- just looked at the YM article. I think I have tried most of the suggestions on my mast, but no effect.
Edit- just looked at the YM article. I think I have tried most of the suggestions on my mast, but no effect.
Last edited:
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Dont know whether its relevant to your problem Vyv but I was surprised to discover when dealing with an old black anodised mast that colour agents or dyes or whatever you might call them were incorporated into the anodising process to get the appearance the anodisier wanted. Thats how they get gold and black and indeed lots of other colours. The only way to get rid of the colour is to remove the anodising which in the case of my black mast I did with warm caustic soda solution. Could be that your mast has a colouring agent that has faded with the UV. Since the base ally wouldnt change at all in sunlight, this seems likely.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
No, I don't think it is dyed, but thanks for the suggestion. Just nearly 30 years of polluted air, I think.
lumphammer
Well-Known Member
As a follow on thought; its probably a silly question but what would be the effect of light sanding. This would presumably remove any anodising/oxidation and the bare metal would then re-oxidise is that sufficient protection. Are there any other unforseen circumstances?
rivonia
Well-Known Member
I have cleaned all my toe rail (aluminium) with a fine wet and dry emery. it came up sparkling and I am a happy chappy.
