Aluminium gunnel clean-up?

[Robin]

Is there a method to get the best look out of old metal gunnels?
Thank You

 

[Guest]

An aluminum cleaner/brightener product. See photos in post 4 on this thread:

http://www.canoetripping.net/forums...68682-and-so-it-begins-bell-merlin-ii-repairs

 

[Robin]

Thanks

 

[Canotrouge]

Be careful with any products that ave "abrasive" in it, cause most aluminum gunnels are anodized and you could rub the finish off...

 

[Guest]

Be careful with any products that ave "abrasive" in it

Yup, I would hesitate to use anything abrasive on anodized or electroplated plated gunwales. The “Flitz Polish” that FurtherNorth used on her anodized gunwales seemed to do a good job without marring the anodization.

I used Burnishine Aluminum Brightener from West Marine for plain aluminum gunwales. That is by instructions a “paint on and rinse off” product. For one set of uncoated aluminum gunwales on a left-in-the-dirt canoe I had to use a Scotch-brite pad to remove the years of crud, and that abrasive action left a dull matt finish, which I kinda preferred to bright and shiny. I did put marine wax on those gunwales so the micro-scratches didn’t become dirt magnets.

The Burnishine contains “Acids and Flourides”; I have no idea if that would eat into anodized or plated gunwales.

The Fritz polish is a more expensive than a 16oz bottle of Burnishine, but it doesn’t take much to clean a pair of gunwales.

 

[Jim Dodd]

Vinegar and Baking Soda ?
Haven't tried in on anything, but it sure looked good on Facebook !

Maybe just try it on a spot, and see if it works !

Come to think about it ! I have two Vee bottoms, that could usecleaning !

Jim