I need to remove paint from the heads on my motor cycle, paint remover didn't work so well. In fact it was a waste of $36. I have a sand blaster but that would be too aggressive on cast aluminum. Any of you guys have experience with using baking soda for a medium? Sounds like it might do the job but.... you know what they say about thinks that are too good to be true.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-lb-portable-soda-blaster-60802.html

I bought a small soda blaster from Harbor Freight. Used it to clean aluminum on old outboard motors, It works great!. Everything I have read about soda is that it does not damage the environment. Just wet the area down with water and the soda melts with no damage. You can buy different "grits" from Harbor Freight. Get a coarse grit. Also have a good sized air compressor. The total outfit with 50 pounds of soda was less than $125.00. Bought it about four years ago.

I've used crushed walnut shells and it works pretty well without being too aggressive. I get it from HF.

HiYa Dan-
I use white vinegar to remove old dirt, grit, paint, and on ferrous parts rust. It works very good, albeit a slow process -may take a few weeks of soaking. I use it on all my old Ford tools and tractor parts when restoring. It will get the part right down to the bare metal, without ruining the natural patina that sandblasting will do. Aluminum will oxidize. For larger parts I've used a kiddie swimming pool but for tools and smaller parts I just use a plastic dishpan. I've had a MS TSX241 carb soaking in a plastic coffee can now for over a year. It was caked in dirt/grease/oil and frozen up. Three months ago I took it out, washed it up in mineral spirits and is now freeing up but back in the vinegar bath to help the last little bit.

Tim Daley(MI)

Tim, Do you use the vinegar straight or do you dilute it and if so in what proportion? Thanks

i have used it once on an 8n early model steering box ,it did a good job but man is it messy. the bag says it will kill any plant life it gets on so i was very careful . will oven cleaner work without harming the aluminum ?

rick

Oven cleaner contains sodium hydroxide. So does Lye. Excellent melting agent of soft metals, brass, aluminum. I had a steel item in the electrolysis tank once that is filled with lye. I failed to notice the aluminum part on it. It got shiny very quickly and then I noticed it was also melting. Fast trip to the garden hose and a rinse. Don't remember if I was lucky enough to save it or not.