I decided to clean up my FMF Fatty expansion chamber today, and figured id make a little video of me doing it. I cleaned this pipe with aluminum foil and water and it came out great I think. The video was shot from my crappy cellphone so I apologize in advance about the quality, also I forgot to mention a couple tips in the video.
The Science of how it works!
Rust is basically oxidized metal or another words metal that has taken on extra oxygen atoms. As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the metal, a portion of the aluminum will oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (i.e a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the metal, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the metals surface which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.
Aluminum oxide is harder than steel, and the microscopic grains of aluminum oxide produced during the cleaning process creates a fine metal polishing compound which, mixed with the water you added, creates a paste that smoothes and polishes the metal surface.
-Tips
Use a little extra water if you want a super fine finish.
Wad up a larger piece of foil when you work on pitted areas. The edges created will help smooth down the pits.
Don't rub too long with the first 'paste' created. Once the surface feels nice and smooth and you've wiped the gunk off, you can use a new piece of foil with some more water to get as much shine as you like.
Here is a picture of the final product after I applied a little bit of mothers polish.
Some of you already knew about this method im sure, but I hope it at least helps someone out who maybe got a good deal on a rusty pipe.I:I
The Science of how it works!
Rust is basically oxidized metal or another words metal that has taken on extra oxygen atoms. As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the metal, a portion of the aluminum will oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (i.e a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the metal, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the metals surface which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.
Aluminum oxide is harder than steel, and the microscopic grains of aluminum oxide produced during the cleaning process creates a fine metal polishing compound which, mixed with the water you added, creates a paste that smoothes and polishes the metal surface.
-Tips
Use a little extra water if you want a super fine finish.
Wad up a larger piece of foil when you work on pitted areas. The edges created will help smooth down the pits.
Don't rub too long with the first 'paste' created. Once the surface feels nice and smooth and you've wiped the gunk off, you can use a new piece of foil with some more water to get as much shine as you like.
Here is a picture of the final product after I applied a little bit of mothers polish.
Some of you already knew about this method im sure, but I hope it at least helps someone out who maybe got a good deal on a rusty pipe.I:I
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