This week I’m doing some final cleaning and polishing of a few aluminum parts. I made some sodium hydroxide to help get the job done. This solution also works well as a de-greaser that can be washed away with water. Sodium hydroxide is also known as Lye. It’s in all soaps in very dilute quantities. It’s also the primary ingredient in most off the shelf de-greasers like Purple Power.
USE CAUTION WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE! WEAR EYE PROTECTION AND RUBBER GLOVES! IN CONCENTRATED FORM IT WILL SLOWLY DISSOLVE FLESH! ewwwwwwwwwww
Sodium Hydroxide will eat aluminum! The byproduct is hydrogen gas. Use a dilute solution (2 – 3 tablespoons per gallon of water) in a well ventilated area.
It’s a caustic base chemical and can really irritate bare skin. If you get a concentrated amount on your skin rinse thoroughly with water. Follow the mixing directions and precautions in the video. I made mine from Draino drain cleaner in crystal form. Don’t try this at home. 🙂
Keep on hackin!