Cleaning Brushed Aluminium

[bartekxx12]

Hi, 

So I had my Define R4 for a while now and while I was being careful not to touch the front brushed aluminium door. Over time it gathered some fingerprints which appeared as large discoloured spots and marks on the case. Noticing how much worse it is getting overtime just due to accidental touches I was starting to think maybe brushed aluminium isn't the way to go even though I think it looks absolutely beautiful when clean.

I remembered Linus saying that it is impossible to clean because the oils from your skin react with it or whatever :P And after trying many different types of cloths as well as trying water it looked like Linus was right...until... today I have tried using 99% Isopropyl alcohol, just sprayed a little bit on a cloth and tried cleaning a tiny area on the bottom corner of front (incase it turns out the alcohol damages the finish even more) anyway, to my surprise it cleaned all marks off of the aluminium and caused no damage. 

I have now cleaned the entire front just with some more 99% Isopropyl alcohol sprayed on a cloth and the case looks like new with 0 marks. 

 

I know this isn't exactly a guide or a tutorial but more of a tip, if you need to clean brushed aluminium try using 99% Isopropyl alcohol :)

[bchampion96]

That's awesome, I know a lot of bits of aluminium I need to clean :P Thanks :D

[Kayn]

I thought that the front of the R4 was a mock aluminum Brushed finished that was actually plastic?

[Glenwing]

It is.  The door on the R4 is plastic, not aluminum.

[SSOB]

I'm sorry to crush your hopes but you have actually cleaned plastic..

[91Chris]

Pretty sure it's a plastic door with a brushed aliminium effect?

A good degreaser will clean off any fingerprints on a true aluminium panel.

[SirReallySam]

I'm sorry to crush your hopes but you have actually cleaned plastic..

That's pretty sad :(

[rhoscrazy]

Always assumed it was ultra-thin aluminium stuck on the front.

[TechTheWorld]

Brush it.

[bartekxx12]

Always assumed it was ultra-thin aluminium stuck on the front.

Yes, I thought that maybe it was actually plastic before posting this. But it was really hard to clean and isopropyl alcohol seems to be the only thing to clean it perfectly... and it does feel cold to touch. it feels like metal. I think it's a thin layer of metal attached to the plastic front door. I'll check if it conducts later to make sure. 

[rhoscrazy]

Yes, I thought that maybe it was actually plastic before posting this. But it was really hard to clean and isopropyl alcohol seems to be the only thing to clean it perfectly... and it does feel cold to touch. it feels like metal. I think it's a thin layer of metal attached to the plastic front door. I'll check if it conducts later to make sure. 

thinking of buying one of these cases in the next few weeks, thanks for the tip anyhow!

[JordanMac]

thinking of buying one of these cases in the next few weeks, thanks for the tip anyhow!

 

 

Yes, I thought that maybe it was actually plastic before posting this. But it was really hard to clean and isopropyl alcohol seems to be the only thing to clean it perfectly... and it does feel cold to touch. it feels like metal. I think it's a thin layer of metal attached to the plastic front door. I'll check if it conducts later to make sure. 

it is an aluminium front panel over a plastic structure, saves money and is lighter.

[rhoscrazy]

it is an aluminium front panel over a plastic structure, saves money and is lighter.

That is what I thought. The door is plastic yes but the front panel is aluminium. 

[bartekxx12]

it is an aluminium front panel over a plastic structure, saves money and is lighter.

 Excellent, That's what i thought

[Glenwing]

I have the R3... it is plastic.

 

There is no way to "clean" fingerprints off of aluminum because it is not something that is "on" the aluminum but actually etched into it.  There is nothing to get off.  The only way would be to dissolve off the outer layers of everything else around to match the etch depth, similar to how you "untarnish" silver; by stripping off the tarnished layer altogether, exposing the next layer of silver.

[liquidxerox]

The r4 door is plastic guys

 

Sorry to rain on your parades, but that's actually why I bought it. Easy to clean.

[TechSage]

Brushed plastic is my favorite because it looks good and doesn`t attract fingerprints  :D

[MegaDave91]

Brushed plastic is my favorite because it looks good and doesn`t attract fingerprints  :D

 

You just have to see it in the correct lighting. It still attracts fingerprints. Maybe not as much as real brushed aluminum, but they're there. 

[Ed Draper]

create a spray with half water half vinegar.  You've now created an amazing cleaner that is great, cheap, and environmentally friendly.  

[brownninja97]

This helps a lot.

[bob345]

If you want to clean real brushed aluminum, you can use wheel cleaner and/or clay bar for detailing a car. It acctualy works. I have a laptop with a brushed aluminum Finish and it does work.

[Darell3]

Thanks, this was useful!

[Blade of Grass]

Brushed plastic is my favorite because it looks good and doesn`t attract fingerprints  :D

Really? I find the opposite, my laptop has it and it annoys me to death.

[jonasa97]

I love it how this is brought up again and again and it always ends with someone clearing up that the Fractal Design R series cases use Plastic.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Really? I find the opposite, my laptop has it and it annoys me to death.

Same... I have a Gt70 from MSI and damn prints on the lid