Alcohol pads on aluminum??

[MarkJM]

Why do people use alcohol pads on aluminum to clean it? I have tried it one hundred different ways and the results I get are a slick surface with no grip to it. even with my carbon strikers it slips and squeeks. I have reverted to a very high grit sandpaper or maybe scotch brite.

[ccleroy]

Scotchbrite always, alcohol pads do not give proper results.

[Reloader]

Sandpaper for me and not too fine. I like to make it rough for the best sound. When I make my aluminum pots I start with slick aluminum and rough the entire surface with sandpaper before gluing it in. Usually have to touch them up about once a day while hunting.

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[KryptoniteKills]

Alcohol on blasted anodized aluminum. sandpaper on plain aluminum.

[jblackburn]

 

Alcohol on blasted anodized aluminum. sandpaper on plain aluminum.

Exactly. Regular aluminium should be roughed up. Anodized just needs cleaning with alcohol pads.

[WillowRidgeCalls]

With anodized surfaces, it depends on how thick the anodizing is on the calls surface, which is why some calls play very easy and some don't. Ones you get the anodizing thinned down the call plays great and all you need is the alcohol pad to keep it clean. Aluminum must be kept clean or it doesn't play fer squat, the same with your striker. That's why you can play a call and put in your vest and when you take it back out it doesn't play as good as it was playing before, or if you alcohol it and let it sit and dry in a really dry or dusty area, the alcohol attrack dust in the air and it won't play for beans. using scratch pads and fine sand paper cuts groves in the anodizing and the dust settle to the bottom of the groves and your striker plays on the tops of them and plays better because it getting to the aluminum and not the dirt.

[Gobblerstopper]

I use alcohol pads on bead blasted aluminum. Doesn't matter if it is anodized or not

[lightsoutcalls]

  I caution all customers who buy my blasted anodized aluminum surfaced calls to use ONLY alcohol pads on the surface.  I don't use raw aluminum in my calls, so I can't speak to how to condition it.  I have replaced one or two anodized aluminum surfaces due to the user sanding or using some type of abrasive on it.  When that happens, the repair cost is on the customer for replacing the surface since instructions are given NOT to use abrasives. 
  If you get to a point where an anodized aluminum surface call gets slick, try rubbing a little rainchalk on the surface.  You'll be amazed at how the sound returns to like new condition. 

[Chris Downs]

I got a halloran aluminum call with a black surface.  Does that mean its anodized?  There are no conditioning instructions with the call...so how do I need to go about keeping it in good working order.

[lightsoutcalls]

I got a halloran aluminum call with a black surface.  Does that mean its anodized?  There are no conditioning instructions with the call...so how do I need to go about keeping it in good working order.

If the surface is black, most likely it is anodized.  I would check his website and see if he offers any tips for conditioning.  I'd hate to tell you different than the callmaker.  The alcohol pads won't HURT the call surface, but he may have a different method for optimum sound from his calls.