cleaning aluminium window frames

[Deleted]

Hi All

The window frames on my "Franklin Freeway" have a type of erosion which has caused a mior case of pitting, on using a good quality metal polish (not cheap) I found it didnt take out all of the pitting.

so scratching the old grey matter (what grey matter? ) I decided to try using Wet & dry P400 water proof abrasive paper with the metal polish .

It worked ;D ;D ;D ;D

the only down side to this is that it puts very fine scratches in the frame which subsequently are taken out with a clean white cloth, metal polish and heaps and heaps of elbow grease.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I hope this maybe usful to someone .

As it has helped me to overcome one of the many challenges ( I dont have problems only challenges)I have in bringing my "Franklin Freeway" back to it's former glory.

regards

Colliwobbles

[atouchofglass]

Thanks for that CW

Sometimes you can also get sandpaper foam rectangles
Not what they are called

Various grades sandpaper over foam are available
It conforms to the shape of the windows very well
Used wet or dry


Cheers
Atog

[keelz]

The pitting of the frames is most likely the breaking down of the anodised finish to the aluminium?. I have some windows on my van exhibiting the same characteristics however i haven't yet decided on the plan of attack or just leave well enough alone. They are clear anodised frames.

This is from the

Anodisers Association of Australasia :: A DIVISION OF THE AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF SURFACE FINISHING

The natural beauty and lustre of Anodising has been proven to stand the test of time. In 20 years with proper maintenance your project will look as good as the day you installed it.

Deterioration of the Anodised coating can occur, mainly as a result of grime build up which retains contaminated moisture permitting attack of the surface thereby damaging the finish.

What to use?
The cleaning procedure adopted will depend on the current condition of the surface and the time lapsed since last attended.

If regularly maintained washing down Anodised aluminium with warm water containing a suitable wetting agent or with mild soap solution. Hand rubbing is often used for small work for larger projects utensils such as fibre brushes may be more practical.

More difficult grime deposits may require the use of a mild abrasive such as pumice powder and water. Where greasy deposits are concerned, cleaning may require a soft cloth dipped in white spirits.

It is necessary to thoroughly rinse with water after cleaning especially where crevices are present to ensure removal of all residues.

What NOT to use?
The removal of grime by the use of emery paper, sand paper, steel wool or other highly abrasive materials.

Acid or alkaline cleaners are not recommended as they can damage the anodised coating.

Emulsion cleaners or proprietary chemical agents may also attack the anodised coating therefore they should never be used except in consultation with companies specialising in the cleaning of anodised aluminium.

How often?
The frequency with which cleaning should be carried out will range from monthly to six monthly intervals according to application and environment that the surface is exposed to.The aim of the cleaning operation should be the removal of grime deposited without damage to anodised coating.


Gents, what do u reckon?

If we leave the windows as is it detracts from the vans appearance, if we attack the finish with abrasives, are we just going to remove all anodise coating back to mill aluminium and create a bigger pitting/corrosion problem in the short to long term?



Where's that classic caravaners brick fence i need to go sit on it for a while

Keelz

[atouchofglass]

Thanks Keelz
The information is useful for those with anodised frames
For my Olympic it isn't an issue..... the frames are not anodised, so the sandpaper and steelwool bit works

Cheers
Atog

[Deleted]

Excuse my ignorance guys, as mentioned above some aluminium window frames are anodised,

how do I tell if the aluminium window frames on my van are anodised or not ?

the van is a 1966/67 Franklin Freeway.

regards

Colliwobbles

[millard1399]

Hi colliwobbles, I'm not gonna bet my house on it, but I doubt very much if any of the caravan windows used in the 1960s and 1970s were anodised. I know the windows in my 1977 Millard are heavily pitted/corroded, and certainly don't appear to have been anodised. I would think the cost of anodising windows would have been too great an expense for the mass-produced vans in that era, but perhaps some of the more luxurious vans (the top of the range models) may have been given that treatment.

If the window frame is curved, then anodising would have to be done after the frame is made, because anodised aluminium cannot be bent much without cracking the anodised surface. On a piece of plain mill-finished aluminium, the surface layer of aluminium oxide that forms naturally is about 5 microns thickness. In the anodising process, the thickness of this oxide layer is increased to varying amounts depending on the end-use...10, 15, 20 or a max of 25 microns. So even your plain everyday aluminium has a thin protective layer of aluminium oxide that forms naturally.

So this is what I reckon you can do (and what I'm doing): You can clean back the surface of your windows with whatever means you want, and then clean them thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry them out. Then it's a matter of keeping them clean with a wipe-down every six months or so. If you want to make them shine a bit, then some polish (like truckies use on their bull bars) would give added protection to corrosion as well. The biggest killer of aluminium is salt water (sea spray), or corrosive atmospheric pollution, neither of which is in abundance where you are in Canberra (...ignoring the 'atmospheric pollution' that comes from Parliament House )

I've collected plenty of old aluminium pots and pans from the Op Shops. Get them home and into the sink, and give them a thorough scrub with steel wool and soap. Pots that are 30..40..50 years old come up sparkling like new. And none of them have shown any detrimental effects from the no-holds-barred cleaning treatment I've given them. So I ask myself, why would old aluminium windows be any different??

Enough waffle from me...
cheers,
Al.

[keelz]

Al, the more i think about it and had a closer look at my vans frames and reading your post above i reckon you're spot on.

When i was cleaning my roof back to re-seal the corner trims a slight abrasive rub bought them back to looking like new.

Keelz

[Deleted]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the feed back.

Following on with the suggestions you have made above, I'm wondering if after I have cleaned and polished my window frames to a shine I'm happy with, would a coat or two of marine varnish help to protect against further corrosion.

It appears most of us seem to have a corrosion problem with our windows, so with this bit of brain storming we will surely come up with a solution or two

regards

Colliwobbles

[Deleted]

Hi all,
Alfab windows used on the mid 60's Franklins are most definatly a gold anodised finish.( top quality van those Franklins).
The idea of using marine varnish on the frames after cleaning is a good one, we used a similar method on aircraft in the 60's & 70's when the fuselages were polished aluminium. Used Brasso as the polish, then a wipe over with turps or thinners to remove the blackish residue, then 2 coats of clear Acrylic lacquer. I say go for it.

Frankidownunder.

[Deleted]

Frakidownunder

Thanks for your feed back.

I thought it was a good idea at the time 8-)but needed to bounce it off some of you out there to see if it is
as good and practical idea as I originally thought it was|

Now I can go ahead and clean those window frames.

It's so great that we can exchange info on this forum to greater benefit of all

thanks again to "Frankidownunder"

regards Colliwobbles