Oven Cleaner Works!

blykins · #1 (**permalink**) 02-16-2005, 02:59 PM

Well, I received my new fuel log in today (purple) and decided to go ahead and strip it down to a natural aluminum finish. I left all the blue anodized fittings in it and covered it in oven cleaner.

The purple (and blue) disappeared. It works very well.

Thanks to the guys that suggested this method.....and thanks to Fox, Lineslinger, Trularin, and the other guys who helped me find the fittings I needed....

trularin · #2 (**permalink**) 02-16-2005, 06:06 PM

Gee Brent, how about a shot of the new log??

casaleenie · #3 (**permalink**) 02-16-2005, 06:28 PM

It works on ovens also

blykins · #4 (**permalink**) 02-16-2005, 06:34 PM

Tru, I'm gonna hit it with some Scotch Brite tomorrow and I'll try to post a pic this weekend when I get it perfect. It now has a brushed look since I went over it with some 120 grit.

I was pretty amazed at how well it works on fittings too. If I would have known that, I wouldn't have drove everyone nuts trying to find steel/nickel colored fittings.....Sorry!

DAVID GAGNARD · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005, 05:05 PM

blykins;

I just got in my fuel lines today for my 650 Demon,half the fittings are blue and half red,not really pretty to me anyway.......Thinking about cleaning them with the oven cleaner trick........will it hurt anything to get the oven cleaner on the braided lines????? one end of the line is made onto the AN fitting (not removeable) but the other end can be removed??????? I'll be happy with just plane aluminum........

When using oven cleaner,what did you do,spray it on and wait how long,then wipe off with a scotch pad or rag and hose off or what?????????

I have used oven cleaner on other things such as wooden gun stocks and other wood products,works well,but never have used it on AN fitting.........

Also,when using AN fitting,do you use any kind of thread sealer, teflon tape or other sealer,or do you just screw them together without anything on the threads???????

Thanks;
David

trularin · #6 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005, 06:02 PM

Dave, Wait for Brent to post a pic and see for yourself. I would like to see as well.

blykins · #7 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005, 06:14 PM

I'll try to get a pic sometime tomorrow or Sunday for you guys.....

I don't know how oven cleaner would behave on stainless line. I did my job in a stainless steel kitchen sink and I couldn't see any effects on it...so I would assume it would be ok.....But just to be on the safe side, is there anything you can set the fuel line down into to cover it or shield it?

I used oven cleaner and a dish scrubber.....like one of those little pad things that are spongy on one side and have a rough surface on the other side. You could probably even use some steel wool to speed up the process. I would have, but I didn't have any here.

I sprayed the oven cleaner on the log and made sure it foamed up really good. I let it set for probably about a minute. At first it takes a little scrubbing because it appears the anodization is really set in deep. The color kept getting lighter and lighter as I worked the piece with the scurbber. But after about 3 coats of oven cleaner and scrubbing each time, it looked good. Running hot water over it as I scrubbed seemed to help.

There will be some uneven "spots" on whatever you're stripping......I just used some Scotch Brite to even everything out and give it a more satin finish. I left the fittings on the fuel log when I sprayed it. The fittings turned out the same way, but it's a little more difficult to detail them considering their size and shape. It just takes a little more elbow grease. I thought about this after I finished........if you're a gun buff and reload your own shells and tumble your brass, put the fittings in a tumbler. I'm sure it would make them uniformly satin all over......with less elbow grease.

After my fuel log was uniformly brushed, I sprayed it with a coat of high temp clear coat to protect the bare aluminum.

Like I said I'll try to get some pics for you guys tomorrow. I'm very pleased with it though.

As for sealant on the fittings.....My fuel log came with teflon tape on the NPT portion of the adapter fittings. But I think for the flared part of the fitting, you don't need anything. It's like a compression fitting. Someone else chime in if I'm wrong.....

dblbarrel · #8 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by casaleenie

It works on ovens also

Women do that

blykins · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 06:00 AM

hehehe

Karl Bebout · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 07:06 AM

David, What I've read about A/N fittings specifically state that no teflon tape, sealer, or pipe dope should be used.

lineslinger · #11 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 11:07 AM

Karlos,
You are right about not using "sealant additives" on the male to female AN fittings, these are a compression design, but on adaptors or where you are screwing in NPT threads to NPT receiver a sealant (I use aviation gasket sealant, impervious to gasoline) helps avoid those annoying little leaks where a non-compression connection is used.
As for oven cleaner affecting the stainless hose it will dull the finish of the stainless very slightly and can be wiped down with 0000 steel wool to regain its original "look". If you are really worried about it you can wipe a coating of vaseline on any surface you don't want the oven cleaner to influence, hope this helps.
Mark

lineslinger · #12 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 11:11 AM

Blykins,
Glad to hear you got rid of the purple, hurry up and post a pic.

DAVID GAGNARD · #13 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 04:33 PM

Thanks guys for the info,I kinda figured not to use anything on the compression fittings,but I'll use something,probably teflon tape on the NPT fittings........ I only have two NPT fitting,where the AN fittings go into the mechanical fuel pump.........

Thanks again;

David

blykins · #14 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 06:12 PM

Hey Mark, where can I find some aviation gasket sealant?

trularin · #15 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 07:03 PM

Dave, see if you can find some liquid teflon. GM has it at their parts counter ( well at least they used to ).

It works great for NPT fittings.

lineslinger · #16 (**permalink**) 02-19-2005, 08:33 PM

I got the gasket sealent from a buddy of mine who owns a company up here called Jet Corp. I was in one of his hangers and was doing my very best to bother one of his mechanics that was working a VERY large turbine fan engine, you know "whats this hose for and what does that gear have to do with that"..on and on and on. I spotted the gasket sealer on his parts cart and he gave it to me, I'm sure , to get rid of me. I will look up the manufacturer and get back to you tomorrow.

DAVID GAGNARD · #17 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 07:51 AM

trularin;

I know I have some liquid teflon tape somewhere in the shop,but the only time I used it I did not have the results I hoped for (do not even remember exactly what I used it on),but have always had good results with teflon tape.....................

I think I'll wrap the stainless line with duct tape just as a little insurance against the oven cleaner when doing the job.......

David

trularin · #18 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 08:34 AM

After you null the acid, you can clean the entire assembly with a petrolium based cleaner. That way any glue from the duct tape will come right off.

I'd like to see how these turn(ed) out.

DAVID GAGNARD · #19 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 08:39 AM

I'll take some before and after pictures................

David

DAVID GAGNARD · #20 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 09:01 AM

Here is a photo of my Demon carb with the dual feed lines on it,just for fitting purposes.........I just as soon have all the AN fitting aluminum color,the two AN fittings on the fuel pump will remain blue as they do not show up much down there,going to try the oven cleaner trick this afternoon after the Daytona 500 and post good results (hopefully).......

David