Aluminium corrosion

[Joe_Cole]

I've got some aluminium tubes which have stuck together presumably as a result of corrosion. They are about 1" diameter and they slot together like tent poles. Unfortunately there is nothing on them to get a grip on so I have been unable to get a lot of force on them to separate them.

Any ideas?

 

[aztec]

joe,

try jubilee clips arond them, it'll give you more purchase. also plus gas, it'll find it's way into the joint.

another way is gentle heat, but not too much as it can make the alluminium brittle.

good luck, steve.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Coca Cola.... soak the joint in it....

 

[Joe_Cole]

Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.

I'll also try the Coca cola. It's better to pour the stuff on ally tubes than down my throat!

 

[TigaWave]

ACF-50 will free them up, loads better than all the oil lubes as it removes the corrossion, and penetrates better.
(its restricted in its use on aircraft as it gets between rivets and Al and loosens them as it destroys the layer of corrossion)
You can get it from a guy at Hurn airport, as well as corrossion block.
It recently freed up a seized extending Al boat hook in a few minutes.

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got some aluminium tubes which have stuck together presumably as a result of corrosion. They are about 1" diameter and they slot together like tent poles. Unfortunately there is nothing on them to get a grip on so I have been unable to get a lot of force on them to separate them.

Any ideas?

[/ QUOTE ]Easy! Lay the joint on something solid like a block of metal or heavy block of wood and gently tap the joint all round with a light hammer. Not so hard as to deform the tube but hard enough to shock the joint and break the bond/corrosion product. If that does not work try heating the outer tube but not too hot as you might melt it. BTW don't worry abot hardening the aluminium by heating unless you have a precipitation hardening alloy and even then doubtfull if you would embrittle the material. To gauge the tempoerature use a piece of hand soap such as lux or camay - (preferably the white stuff) and wipe some on the surface of the tube - when the soap smear turns black you have heated enough to expand the outer tube and anneal the tube material - a series of gentle taps with a light hammer is usually enough at this stage to free the joint. Final resort is soak the joint in plus gas and repeat the tapping / heating until the joint opens.
The use of jubilee clips is a good way to get a little more purchase on the tubes with minimal damage if you do not have tube grips.
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