Somewhat off topic, but figured if someone knows how it will be in here.

I had some D cell batteries corrode inside a maglite, and I cleaned it up a bit but there is still a bunch of oxided aluminum in there. Does anyone know of a chemical that will remove the oxidizing but leave the anodizing intact?

TIA

Mark

anodizing is oxidizing. Its the creation of Aluminum oxide under controlled conditions to "grow" a layer of known thickness.

The only way to remove the rough cruddy surface is with abrasives and then re-anodize. BTW you will need to an abrasive that is harder than aluminum oxide. The "brown" sand paper used primarily for wood and paint is Aluminum Oxide, so that won't work, (or at least not very well).

An eraser- the old white ones used to erase ink and a little elbow action will remove the majority of the oxidation. There is also a bath cleaner used to break down scum on fixtures that works on aluminum. I think it is made by the same people that make ZUD, the rust remover but I can't think of the exact name.

Hey Mark, Before you go to a lot of trouble, go get a box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda out of the back of the refrigerator. Your wife will probably have one in there to adsorb onion odors and such stuff.

Take a couple of table spoons full of the Baking Soda and mix it with regular old water. If you get a bit too much water, it will just set above the Baking Soda after you stir it up.

Now take a small paint brush and "paint" the corrosion with the Baking Soda. If what you are actually seeing is the Battery Acid inside the tube, it will begin "Foaming". Just keep adding the wet Baking Soda and it will loosen that Acidic Corrosion so you can scrape it out or wash it out.

By the way, it is best to do this operation "Outside" and also best not to get any of that Corrosion on your clothes. If you even suspect some of it dripped or splashed on you, get those clothes washed immediately. Do not wash them with other clothes - especially something the wife is particularly fond of.

Once you get all the Acid out of the tube, use a regular old Gun Scrubbing Brush with the wooden or plastic handle to knock out any roughness.

Won't hurt to leave the wet Baking Soda in it over night either.

HC has a good point about killing the acid with baking soda...

I just use regular sandpaper. The oxidation is hard, but crumbly (not well adhered to the walls of the flashlight), so it comes off easily enough. You will lose the benefits of anodization there, but it's the inside, who cares.

In my experience (3-4 of them), if the leakage is bad the switch gets fried and then it's just an aluminum tube for various shop projects...