Cleaning old painted metalwork

CLEANING METAL BITS

Any oil should be OK on any metal (3-In-One machine type is OK) and if you rub hard enough it should get rid of most dirt, or use a green scotchbrite dish cleaner for harder dirt instead of a cloth, but you could always try ordinary turps or white spirit initially if stubborn – best to try that first before rubbing in oil.

Also, Bar Keeper’s Friend on a small area for some metal cleaning jobs can be tried after getting off anything really greasy with spirit – you rub in BKF with a damp cloth, but if its delicate re any existing corrosion then a gentle abrasive cloth or pad (depending on the roughness of the metal) on a power drill is good.

I cleaned up a Vulcan guide rail OK on the living room floor 😮 (when I had one) with Bar Keeper’s Friend, years ago by rubbing in with a damp cloth anyway, and the wife never moaned once.

Mind you, I’m not married

Post a piccie?

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies. I am talking aluminium. I want to remove the grime before I decide whether to preserve as is, or strip and repaint.

Cheers,
TEC

Avoid Olive Oil.

That’s right, Pop Eye becomes really jealous after a tin of spinach

What sort of metal are we talking about ?

I’ve had good luck (especially if the item has grease/oil on it) using aerosol automotive brake cleaner. I believe it’s alcohol-based so won’t harm paint or encourage corrosion.

If it was good enough for Atlas missiles in the late 50’s then it’s good enough for me.

http://wd40.com/about-us/history/

Avoid Olive Oil.

I use Bilthamber Ferrosol, find it brilliant at cleaning at protecting http://www.bilthamber.com/ferrosol