Cleaning Anodized Aluminum

[h2opolo]

Does anyone know of a way to clean an aluminum anodized wakeboard tower. I would like to do this WITHOUT removing the anodized layer. I have a tower that has been near salt water. I think it has some oxidation or calcium deposits which make it look dull.

If my best option is to de-anodize and re-anodize, is this an easy process? If so, how is it done?

[TX-Foilhead]

I have had good luck with Colonite Metal Wax and a small buffer. Bad thing is it makes a huge mess, you need to cover the boat with a drop cloth or something before you start. As long as you're using a liquid metal polish you shouldn't have to worry about the anno. A bench polisher and rouge will burn though it, but that's not really an option on a tower.

[Prairiedawg]

I've used NEVR-DULL on different metals, It is just some kind of hydrocarbon soaked raw cotton, it seems pretty harmless and brightens things up quickly.

[h2opolo]

Do either of these remove aluminum oxide? I don't want to use an acid or a base on the tower because it will continue to eat at the aluminum because I cant soak my whole tower. There are alot of aluminum oxide buildup areas. I cant think of a way to get rid of it without rebrushing the whole tower.

[TX-Foilhead]

From the looks of it the soft polishes should clean that up fairly well. I'm guessing its more like a bunch of pin holes than a place where there is no anno at all. They won't shine unpolished metal, they don't have enough cutting power, they also won't remove any of the anno. Keeping it waxed will help it stay that way once you get it clean, shouldn't be hard if it around fresh water, around salt everything just takes a lot more work.