Additional suggestions?How to properly clean oxidation off of aluminum elements.

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n2len:
Hello Everyone,

Today I acquired a used Mosley Classic 33 and am reconditioning it to re-install it next year. 
No rust, All of the hardware appears to be in good shape just oxidation.
I am looking for any additional suggestions on how to easily remove the oxidation from the elements. The gentleman I purchased the antenna from had ordered new plastic trap caps and end caps. I am not too concerned about the look of the antenna, but being that it is disassembled anyway figured to make it shiny and treat it with some type of protective coating so it lasts. I used Nevrdull and Navel Jelly for cleaning metal applications before with some elbow grease. Someone mentioned Aluma-jel never tried it.

I am curious about using a protective coating, like MOSLEY Weather-Guard etc...
Also looking for suggestions on that product or similar.

From the Mosley site...
Frequently it is asked, "How can I clean my MOSLEY antenna system?", or "How can I remove
MOSLEY Weather-Guard from my antenna?" MOSLEY Weather-Guard can only be removed
with sandpaper or steel wool. When the trap type antennas are sanded or steel wool used, care
should be exercised to see that small bits of aluminum dust or wool bits do not get into the trap
coils and short them out. MOSLEY Weather-Guard, when properly applied, is a permanent
protection and seldom needs to be removed. Usually a good cleaning will remove dirt.
To remove oxidation and corrosion from the aluminum components, Mosley recommends using
either a double 00 or a triple 000 grade steel wheel. With a little elbow grease, the aluminum can
be brought back to its original luster. Also, a good cleaning agent that can be used is Tri-Sodium
Phosphate, (1/2 cup per gallon of water). This is a high detergent cleaning agent. A solution of
vinegar and water can be substituted as well. Care should also be exercised to keep this out of
the trap assemblies. When finished, thoroughly rinse with clean water ALL portions of the
antenna. BE CAREFUL TO KEEP SOLUTION OUT OF THE TRAP ASSEMBLIES.
A MOSLEY anti-corrosion compound is available and should be used on all electrical connections
except on terminating wires on the trap assemblies. It is very effective and, when used properly,
will prevent corrosion or oxidation of metals.

Thanks,
Len

WA1GFZ:
the only places that need to be cleaned are inside overlapping joints.
Then coat with NO-OX. Don't waste your time with exposed metal

kb4qaa:
For general cleaning of aluminum a scotch-brite pad and soapy water is adequate.  The generic kitchen types are fine.  Scotch-brite pads of various grades are often used in aviation.  Steel wool should never be used on aluminum since it may embed particles in the aluminum causing accelerated dissimilar metal corrosion.

Alumiprep-33 is used for serious cleaning before painting or chemical conversion coatings such as Alodine (a chromium conversion).  Alumiprep-33 is a phosphoric acid cleaner.  Both are [truly] hazardous chemicals which may be restricted in disposal. They are available from paint suppliers and aviation parts houses like Aircraft Spruce.

My recommendation is cleaning with scotch-brite pads and soapy water.  For spot removal of bad corrosion use aluminum oxide (black) sandpaper and water, then spray coat exposed surfaces with Krylon Clear Acrylic or equivalent for extended protection.  My favorite joint conductive compound is GB Oxgard from the hardware store.
 
bill

n2len:
Thanks for the replies...Scotch-brite seems to be the way to go.

Spraying with clear Krylon is no problem either and NO-OX and or GB Oxgard.
It appears that from looking at the antenna, the weak weather beaten parts are the plastic trap caps.
I guess they simply dry out and crack from temperature change (expanding and contracting). The new ones are rather soft plastic and somewhat flimsy, probably to slightly expand for a tight fit over the element and trap ends, same material are the end caps.

Can they be covered with a layer of thermal silicone for protection as well?

WA1GFZ:
you might be able to buy new plastic end caps.

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