Sodium Hydroxide damage to a gas grill

[Mike Hughes]

We seem to have gotten some sodium hydroxide overspray on three sides of a gas grill. The grill is silver, not really a painted surface, not sure what it is, but anyway, it has left black spots on the grill..........a brand new grill too......

Anyone have any suggestions? How 'bout trying to neutralize it?

Basically, I think I'm screwed on the deal......will have to work something out to please the customer, which I can handle........but I'm hoping to make the grill look better also.........any thoughts?

Mike

 

[Stateline P/W]

<FONT COLOR="Navy">
Mike, do you think the grill could be stainless steel. If so you might try polishing. </FONT c>

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Steve

Stateline Pressure Washing [boldred]

 

[Mike Hughes]

Steve,

No, not stainless for sure...........i really don't know how to describe it exactly........

I would have moved the grill, but it had a gas line permanently plumbed to it.......no tank. Oh well. Didn't think ahead enough to cover it up.......

Mike

 

[Jon Fife]

hi mike,

this probably isn't the advice you are looking for, but if you end up having to replace the grill, are you going to take the old one with you?? i would think they would let you.

jon

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[Beth]

Hi Mike!
Well, we ran into a similar situation a couple of years ago, except it involved a resin table. We ended up replacing it, but took the old one with us.

I guess I am saying that if you replace it, let the homeowner know that you take the old one with you. If they truly don't like the grill, they will have no problem, but if they are just trying to get a second grill....well, they will hesitate.

What on earth do you do with the other grill? Keep it, sell it, give it to the employee who has the best attendance record all summer, whatever....

Just some thoughts...
Beth

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Beth Borrego
Http://www.seedirtrun.com

 

[Pete @ Sun Brite]

Hay, Mike! Sodium hydroxide has a nasty reaction with aluminum (and I think most "pot" metal or cast metal contains some aluminum). I don't know of a good way to fix the grill, but thought this might serve as a warning to all about aluminum threshholds, sliding doors, etc. I try to tell all of our Sun Brite customers about this, to help them avoid the trouble you experienced.

I would definitely try to polish the metal. In the future,when our guys find a "built-in" grill, we are careful to protect it or remove it (by disconnecting the gas line and the two or four lag bolts holding it in place).

Good Luck!
Pete, Sun Brite

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[Tunatussle]

Mike, I would give a call to a place like Tower Power
they fabricate aluminum towers for boats and I'm sure they encounter all types of stains on aluminum. Phone
908 983 3953 or any marine aluminum fabricator.

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[Greg Rentschler]

Hey Mike,

Unfortunately I think your screwed as far as repairing the finish to the grill. We had a similar problem before and could find no way to restore it to a satisfactory finish without repainting it. They did finally agree to this but it was in need of paint anyway. The one we did was made of cast aluminum. Well, I found out one thing the hard way. One day we dismantled our airless setups to clean and strip the excess sealant from the parts and placed them in a weak solution of sodium hydroxide to dwell. Come back the next morning and they were gone!! The parts were cast aluminum and the sodium hydroxide had completely dissolved them into the solution. Kinda freaky huh??
Good Luck with your customer.... a natural gas grill is about twice as expensive as a propane tank model.

Greg Rentschler




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Greg Rentschler
TimberSeal, Inc
Wood Restoration & Preservation Services

 

[Mike Hughes]

<FONT size="5">Update:</FONT s>

I finished their deck yesterday........they had asked me to wash the back of their house (alum siding), which I did..........I did not charge them for the house washing........and, he was very satisfied with the job that was done on the deck......so, the whole grill issue is behind me.......did not even try to polish it, or do anything about it for fear of making it worse.......

Life goes on..........thanks for the suggestions.

Mike