Go Back   Cruiser Log World Cruising & Sailing Forums > Cruising Forums > The Bosun's Locker > Other Equipment
Cruiser Wiki Click Here to Login

Join Cruiser Log Today

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-30-2012, 12:35 AM   #1
Ensign
 
SayGudday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Home Port: San Diego
Vessel Name: Windswept
Posts: 25
Default Cleaning the Pullpit

She's old, she's dirty, worn out and beaten up, but I still love her so it's time to give the old gal a little face lift. My pullpit, pushpit and stanchions are all spotty, not with rust, just old age I think. Anyone have any suggestions about the best way of cleaning them that will last the longest? As it is I clean them every few days with just a little steelwool but the dark spots come back quickly (days). I'm on a mooring ball so I'd like to find some cleaner that's as environmentally friendly as possible.
__________________

__________________
SayGudday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2012, 02:19 AM   #2
Commander
 
svhoneybee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Home Port: Hobart
Vessel Name: Honey Bee
Posts: 127
Default

My understanding is that steel wool makes things worse. Embeds tiny fragments of steel which then rust.
__________________

__________________
I've Contributed to the Cruisers Wiki: New Caledonia, Australia.
svhoneybee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2012, 04:13 AM   #3
Admiral
 
Auzzee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Home Port: Darwin
Vessel Name: Sandettie
Posts: 1,917
Default

You should try to avoid all abrasive cleaners when cleaning stainless steel. A 3M Scotchbrite pad is the exception. Try using undiluted white vinegar on a cloth. If than doesn't work, you can use a 10% solution of nitric acid. It is wise to use gloves and to be very careful with the undiluted acid.

Nitric acid does not attack either the nickel or steel content in s/s in the same agressive way that sulphuric acid does. If the cause of the rust problem is embedded steel particles (say from steel wool) oxalic acid may be the better choice as a cleaner.

The acid solution will not damage paint or topsides, but it is wise to flush the areas around your pullpit and staunchion bases as soon as practicable after cleaning. The mild acid run-off into the sea will be immediately neutralised by the alkaline sea water.
__________________
"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!


Auzzee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2012, 06:52 AM   #4
Ensign
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Home Port: s
Posts: 6
Default

Auzzee has it then to stop it coming back use Lanox mx4 Infact I spray my Bukh every winter it keeps corrosion away. I also use it for bringing old aluminum back from that dry look, timber ends, and perspex haze it the best all rounder ive found.

I have no interests in that company just like there products.
__________________
sctpc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2012, 07:47 AM   #5
Admiral
 
Auzzee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Home Port: Darwin
Vessel Name: Sandettie
Posts: 1,917
Default

WARNING
In the above post there is a link which gives good information about Lanox. However, at the bottom of the Lanox page there is a link to US testimonials from boating and marine users. I opened this file and was immediately warned by my antivirus programme that there was an attempted intrusion attack on my computer from a UK based site.

It may have been coincidental, however, I would caution you against opening the link within the link.
__________________
"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!


Auzzee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2012, 05:52 PM   #6
Moderator
 
redbopeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Home Port: Washington DC
Vessel Name: SV Mahdee
Posts: 3,236
Default

I removed the offending link above since our member shouldn't care where one gets info for Lanox. Here's a link to a google search for the product:

Google Lanox
__________________
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

What we're doing - The sailing life aboard and the Schooner Chandlery.

redbopeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2012, 02:39 AM   #7
Ensign
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Home Port: Palatka
Posts: 6
Default Metal

After cleanings, try waxing with automotive type stuff. I use pure lanolin heated some and rubbed on thin. I buy it in a drug store where nursing mothers get their stuff. Comes in a tube and is gooy. I guess you could find a thinner, but I just heat and apply and try to rub it off. Lasts about 6-8 months. Put it on turnbuckle ends and threads, keeps the water out.
__________________
Jewel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2012, 05:18 AM   #8
Ensign
 
SayGudday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Home Port: San Diego
Vessel Name: Windswept
Posts: 25
Default

@svhoneybee I had heard that too but when I first got her she really needed the steel wool to get her back to clean. She'd been raced but not loved, unfortunately.

@Auzzee Thanks mate! That's good information and that's the route I'm going to take. And thanks for the virus warning too.

@sctpc Much appreciated.

@Jewel Never heard of that. Will give it a shot.
__________________
SayGudday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2012, 12:27 PM   #9
Admiral
 
JeanneP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,098
Default

I noticed that the stainless steel on our boats developed rust and rust spots where the steel wasn't brightly polished anymore. The greater the scratches, the harder it was to keep that area bright and shiny.

I took my high speed rotary tool (mine was a Dremel, but there are other makes) with cotton polishing wheel, some polishing compound for steel, and polished up those dull spots to a mirror-smooth brightness. That solved the problem. The polishing compound is wax-based, so everything had a hard wax coating after polishing.

Back in 1996 we spent about 6 months in Lawry's Marina in Buddina, Queensland while I recuperated from a myriad of cancer treatments (they worked, since I'm still around). We took advantage of the stationary inactivity to do a lot of work on the 'Melon, including removing and repairing/replacing a great deal of hardware on the boat. There was a rigging shop in the marina, and the owner very generously let me use his bench grinder (?) to polish all our stainless hardware. What a difference all that polishing made. For several years afterward all our stanchions and other stainless needed to bring them back to bright was a fresh-water wash with a soft cloth.

Dremel makes (or made, since I don't see it on their website) a 12V saw blade sharpener with a cigarette lighter plug. We rigged up an extension cord for it and I could go around the boat polishing everything that needed it without removing the gear. IMO one of the best tools we had on the boat.
__________________
In 1986 we went cruising for a few years. After 20 years and 50+ countries and several oceans, we are STILL "cruising for a few years".

SY WATERMELON |
MV WATERMELON (New) | Cruiser's Dictionary, free ebook

= Cruiser's Dictionary, North America,
JeanneP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 08:32 PM   #10
Lieutenant
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 51
Default

Brass. wool is availasble aot hardword stores, no rust.
__________________
babylonlarry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2013, 09:13 PM   #11
Ensign
 
SayGudday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Home Port: San Diego
Vessel Name: Windswept
Posts: 25
Default

I would LOVE some more bronze work on the boat. Sadly, I have asked my bank manager about that and she just laughed and said "I married you, isn't that enough?"
__________________

__________________
SayGudday is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cleaning A Water Tank nauticalnancy Repairs & Maintenance 10 08-18-2012 09:50 PM
Tank And Diesel Cleaning steelfan Engines | Propulsion | Generators 12 05-25-2011 06:35 AM
Cleaning The Bilge Seafarer Repairs & Maintenance 8 04-04-2011 03:21 AM
Bottom Cleaning Tom Farley General Cruising Forum 6 05-01-2007 01:20 PM

Our Communities

Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.

» More about our Communities

Automotive Communities

Our Automotive communities encompass many different makes and models. From U.S. domestics to European Saloons.

» More about our Automotive Communities

RV & Travel Trailer Communities

Our RV & Travel Trailer sites encompasses virtually all types of Recreational Vehicles, from brand-specific to general RV communities.

» More about our RV Communities

Marine Communities

Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.

» More about our Marine Communities


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
×