Any advice? Bit of soapy water, a feather in the blowhole, and a good dry afterwards? It looks like it's a metal that won't react badly to water, but I don't want to find out it does the hard way...
I wouldn't advise immersing in in acetic acid (vinegar) as it is corrosive to metals, much less so to aluminium than other metals due to a thin layer of aluminium oxide that form on its surface when it reacts with oxygen in the air. But even this layer will react slowly.
I just bathe my similar aluminium whistle in hot soapy water for a while & if you have a tunable whisle, take it apart, put your finger over the hole by the blade, cup some of the hot soapy water in it & and blow hard from the bottom end a few times.
If you really want to go for serious cleaning, use an alkali, not an acid. Soap fits nicely into this category, or washing soda. Caustic soda is probably taking it a bit too far. But it all depends what you use your Chieftain low D for - if you've been using it as a pipe for crude oil, it could be your answer.
No, you first use the paperclip, then the acid bath. That way the acid can eat into the scratches made by the paperclip.
But seriously, use soap and water. Not only will it do no harm, but soap will also reduce the amount of cendensation in the windway. If you have to wipe it, use any soft, non abrasive cloth, sponge, feather, cottonwool etc. Try to use something that will not leave little pieces of fluff behind.
Alkali, especially caustic soda and ordinary washing soda react chemically with aluminium. Try scrubbing an aluminium saucepan with soda and see how extraordinary clean it becomes - that's a layer of aluminium that's been reacted away. Soda isn't particularly kind to the skin either, but it's great for removing grease from crockery - it's what our grandparents used before detergents were invented.
Don't even contemplate caustic soda except for cleaning drains, and then follow the maker's instructions to the letter. It's dangerous stuff.
Ordinary hand soap, or a mild washing-up detergent, should be fine for cleaning an aluminium flute.
Cleaning Chieftain Low D
Cleaning Chieftain Low D
Any advice? Bit of soapy water, a feather in the blowhole, and a good dry afterwards? It looks like it's a metal that won't react badly to water, but I don't want to find out it does the hard way...
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by bosco
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
You could try immersing it in vinegar for 1/2 an hour and cleaning out the gunge from the mouthpiece with a think paperclip
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by gedpipes
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
I saw that feather in the blowhole technique
in a book of Japanese erotic art. No reason why it shouldn't work on a pennywhistle.
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by joesmith
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
I wouldn't advise immersing in in acetic acid (vinegar) as it is corrosive to metals, much less so to aluminium than other metals due to a thin layer of aluminium oxide that form on its surface when it reacts with oxygen in the air. But even this layer will react slowly.
I just bathe my similar aluminium whistle in hot soapy water for a while & if you have a tunable whisle, take it apart, put your finger over the hole by the blade, cup some of the hot soapy water in it & and blow hard from the bottom end a few times.
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by farmer barleymow
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
If you really want to go for serious cleaning, use an alkali, not an acid. Soap fits nicely into this category, or washing soda. Caustic soda is probably taking it a bit too far. But it all depends what you use your Chieftain low D for - if you've been using it as a pipe for crude oil, it could be your answer.
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by ragaman
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
No, you first use the paperclip, then the acid bath. That way the acid can eat into the scratches made by the paperclip.
But seriously, use soap and water. Not only will it do no harm, but soap will also reduce the amount of cendensation in the windway. If you have to wipe it, use any soft, non abrasive cloth, sponge, feather, cottonwool etc. Try to use something that will not leave little pieces of fluff behind.
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by Shrog
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
Bung it int he washing machine and it'll be grand :P
# Posted on April 6th 2006 by Murrough
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
Thanks everyone. Sandblasting, acid bath, and a rinse in the dishwasher it is.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by bosco
Re: Cleaning Chieftain Low D
Alkali, especially caustic soda and ordinary washing soda react chemically with aluminium. Try scrubbing an aluminium saucepan with soda and see how extraordinary clean it becomes - that's a layer of aluminium that's been reacted away. Soda isn't particularly kind to the skin either, but it's great for removing grease from crockery - it's what our grandparents used before detergents were invented.
Don't even contemplate caustic soda except for cleaning drains, and then follow the maker's instructions to the letter. It's dangerous stuff.
Ordinary hand soap, or a mild washing-up detergent, should be fine for cleaning an aluminium flute.
# Posted on April 7th 2006 by lazyhound