corrosion

[blademan]

Can anyone help me please? I have a maglight with severe corrosion in the barrel. Any suggestions on dissolving the corrosion? I really appreciate the help.

 

[doubleganger]

If it was caused by leaking batteries and you still have them contact the battery manufacturer and they should buy you a new one.

 

[Rothrandir]

i've heard coke can clean out the insides quite well..
good for your innards too i'm sure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JSWrightOC]

I had alkalines leak and corrode the battery spring in a flashlight once. I soaked the spring in distilled white vinegar for several minutes, and the corrosion brushed right off. After that, some treatment with some contact cleaner/deoxidizer (Caig labs Deox-IT D5, available from MCM and others--good stuff) and it worked as good as new. It had completely lost its finish and still had that tarnished look, but it worked reliably. Perhaps a touch-up with a pencil eraser would have made it shiny again, but I wasn't really worried about it.

Possibly the vinegar (or the coke--both are acidic) will work on your aluminum. The thing with coke is as the carbonation evaporates out of the drink, it becomes less acidic.

 

[Moat]

I would try some sort of acidic soultion (I do think Roths'Coke is indeed acidic /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif, but something a bit stronger would probably be quicker/more effective). Toilet bowl cleaner or other household lime/rust removing solution (I think they're typically phosphoric acid) with a stiff bristle brush (either plastic or aluminum only) would work pretty well, I'd think. Follow with a very thorough warm water flush. Maybe even finish with a baking soda solution (a basic solution - opposite of acidic) to neutralize any remaining acid.

That may do the trick.

Let us know!!

Bob

 

[blademan]

thanks for the excellent info. I can always count on the forum. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[tvodrd]

[ QUOTE ]
Rothrandir said:
i've heard coke can clean out the insides quite well..
good for your innards too i'm sure /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to disagree with Roth's suggestion- I don't think it would be wise to drink the cola from the flashlight after it has done its job. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Larry

 

[Rothrandir]

it's an aquired taste /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif