Cleaning alum tread plate?

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I did some tig welding on some bright tread plate. I have a couple of spots I contaminated the tungsten. Whats the best way to clean off the black soot? I've tried acidtone, but it didn't work well.Dynamic MetalworksMontrose, CODynMetalworks.com
Reply:Generally that black soot just wipes right off, so I dont know what you did in the first place.  However whenever we need to clean up the cleaning zone on tread brite the only way to do it is with polishing compound and a buffer.  BE careful, mind the way the diamonds are orientated and dont do more than you have to.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:It's black, but it's not actually soot, so it won't dissolve in a solvent like acetone, but yeah, a little elbow grease, and it should be gone.
Reply:Whenever I mess up the black just rubs off the polished plate. the only place I end up with black is in the cleaning zone(which try and keep to a minimum). Usually I weld back over it and clean it up a little. Are you Talking about a blackening outside the cleaning?  I have welded a lot of tread. Oh yeah, in this photo no filler was added. So easy anyone could do it (probably first try). Just forward and back, forward and back. Without a pedal, without filler, your only left with torch speed and technique to worry about. makes it very easy. As a matter of fact the only reason I have this cell phone photo is because it was the first piece of tread I ever welded and I was so proud. Last edited by travisc454; 07-07-2011 at 11:41 AM.www.performancealuminumfabrication.com
Reply:I use the green "Scotch" brand pads. They are abrasive enough to get r done but not enough to ruin the work.Measure twice, cut once.Millermatic 211Millermatic 251Miller Dynasty 200DXESAB O/A Set-up