Ok, chemical engineer chiming in here...CANCER RISKS !!
As a Cheme, with a great respect and knowledge of solvent dangers. Lemme throw out my recommended technique for maximum corrosion removal, etching and cleaning prior to priming.
1. Mix up per man. recs. aluminum acid etch (buy at car paint store) and add about 1 tsp of Dawn dishwashing soap per gallon to this solution. This is to etch the aluminum and remove the corrosion that exists and oils/greases. Yes, there is corrosion whether you can see "chalking" or not, alclad or 6061 T6, it is ALWAYS THERE. Ask any metallurgist.
2. Scrub with scotchbrite and the above solution. Look at Van's quick build parts, make your parts look to this degree on your slow build parts. No need to go nuts, just take off the shine, rubbing moderately, over entire surface and scrub HARD where any visual signs of corrosion might be. Keep surfaces nice and wet.
3. Rinse with COPIUS quantities of water from your garden hose. For those a little more anal and corrosion paranoid like myself, use polyethylene gloves and your respirator (carbon/filter mask is ok and safe), and spray the parts immediately with ACETONE (water soluable solvent, cheaper, and MUCH LESS carcinigenic then MEK) using your paint gun and say 25-30 psi in a conventioal spray gun. HVLP is ok too. This is extremely safe, fast and thorough since you can rinse every square inch of every part and all nooks and crannies. Just stay away from ignition sources and OBVIOUSLY do this outside!!
4. Paint/prime ASAP with your favorite ETCHING primer.
5. I challange ANYBODY to accomplish part cleaning any faster or safer or more thorough than me using the above technique.
Sorry for the caps here but this is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
NOW,..... ANY BODY WHO DOES NOT ALREADY KNOW, MEK, ISOBUTYL ETHANOL, ACETONE, TOLUENE, BENZENE AND OTHER SOLVENTS WE USE ARE KNOWN/GUARTANTEED CARCINIGINS ! ! ! ! ! ESPECIALLY KIDNEY AND LIVER CANCER! ! ! ! THEY ALSO, EACH TO A VARYING DEGREE, PENETRATE EASILY THROUGH YOUR SKIN DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM! ! ! ! (DMSO (Dimethylene Sulfoxide) is a great solvent for example and pentrates the skin INSTANTLY!!!!!! They even use this to instantly put drugs directly into the bloodstream! Ever wonder why you get heartburn after "playing" with MEK? Don't believe me? Ask your doctor, and a week after swimming in MEK, check your liver enzymes, then watch the doc's face as he reads the results.......
Please guys, respect these solvents like they are asbestos. They will/can kill you faster.
Parting note, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ,NEVER, NEVER,.... PAINT A CYANOACRILATE CATYLIZED PAINT OR PRIMER WITHOUT A "FRESH AIR" SUPPLY BREATHING SYSTEM, ie. "HOBBY AIR". NO CARBON FILTER MASKS ALLOWED, NEVER, EVER, PERIOD. This is all for your own good and longevity.
Strong words, but must be heeded.
Glen