De-smut

[destroyer125]

I was wondering what stuff is actually in caswells de-smut

[SniperSlayer]

at that what exactly is smut, just residue from stripping old ano with a highly abrasive cleaner?

does it have to be removed, or used,

[destroyer125]

it also removes the oxidization from the aluminum

[SniperSlayer]

so is de-smut the same as stripper? since ano is basically a controlled form of oxidization

[sswee]

Smut is a residue from impurities in the aluminum. That's why some kinds of alum. are more prone to smut. Cast alum. being one of if not the worst.

Caswell DeOx/DeSmut is a mix of acids that will remove natural oxides and smut.

Caswell Stripper is sodium hydroxide that is used to strip chrome or anodize from previously anodized parts. Also used as an etchant for anodize.

The two are not the same.

[destroyer125]

what mix of acids can anyone say?

[sswee]

Ferric and sulfuric but at what ratios and additional proprietary ingrediants is unknown. I buy mine from Caswell.

[kiwijetpilot]

I too would like to know what is in Caswell de-smut, as the claims made for it in the LCD ano manual seem to indicate that it is a good brew.

Either that, or ship it outside the US. Not all of us are Americans!

If you won't ship it... how about a bit more info? Please?

[destroyer125]

Ferric and sulfuric but at what ratios and additional proprietary ingrediants is unknown. I buy mine from Caswell.

just like swwee said....I ordered some and it said it comtained ferric and sulfuric acid on the side

[2scoops]

Re: De-smut

Any more precise recipies yet?

[destroyer125]

Re: De-smut

dont think so

[sage]

Re: De-smut

Re: ship it outside the US.

Where are you trying to obtain it. I just received it from the Canadian Caswell distributor no problems. I'm assuming it came from the US unless they get it from the same manufacturer in Canada and bottle it up here. Not sure.



Sage

[destroyer125]

Re: De-smut

He is looking for the recipe to make homemade desmut I believe

[2scoops]

Re: De-smut

Re: ship it outside the US.

Where are you trying to obtain it.


Sage

If your question is directed at me: Norway.

I'd like to know what's in it so I can just mix up my own with the chemicals I have at work!

I wonder if industrial degreaser mixed with water in an ultrasonic cleaning tank would work?

[sage]

Re: De-smut

Industrial de-greaser would get it clean but I don't think it would do much for the de-smut step. The de-smut removes at least copper from the surface. You could figure that out from the ferric acid content (anothe name for ferric chloride) if you've ever made PC boards it's the same thing that eats the copper. Of course there would likely be a lot of other useful stuff in there too to make it work better. I'm not sure what extra the sulfuric acid would be doing in the de-smut stage since it's going to be containd in the anodizing step anyway but I'm not a chemist, maybe it helps the ferric chloride do it's thing.
Too bad you can't get it shipped to you. It's a lot less trouble to buy it then to think about it. Like I said earlier, I don't find it makes much difference on 6061 but it could be totally different story on alloys with a more copper.

Sage