Keeping Stainless stainfree

[Sandyh]

Some of my stainless steel [s/s] fittings are starting to get that tinge of rust. Most pipework can be cleaned easily, but how about turnbuckles on safety lines? All thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

[S/V Antares]

Try some odinary toothpaste and a firm toothbrush on the turnbuckles. Sometimes it is the simple things that work. Safetylines are a problem. If vinyl coated there is little that will help with the leaching of ferrous material. It is becoming much more common to have uncoated lifelines here in the US for this reason. Remember that stainless needs oxidation of the surface to keep "Stainless" . Coatings, paintin etc. can lead to cavity pitting and other corrosive issues. Most stainless is still 80+ percent steel. I use a simple 1 step cleaner wax (Normally used for gelcoat) on my stainless. Half the price of the "Stainless" cleaner products.

[bcguy]

...baking soda? I have the same discolouring and some rusty looking spots on my stainless lifelines...

Thanks

[mobetah]

Sandy,

I don't know if you can find it down there (it's sometimes hard to find up here) but I like RustAid ..... It's the best stuff I've ever used. In most cases there is no scrubbing ..... in extreme cases, maybe al little scrubbing. Also removes the tanic stains we get on the hull in our ICW. I put it in a spray bottle. It won't harm paint, plastic, etc. unless you don't rinse it off ..... just be sure to rinse it after a few minutes!
WM Barr Online Store - RustAid (Gallon) (GSX00101)

Good luck, Bill A.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Sandyh

but how about turnbuckles on safety lines?

A toothbrush.

It doesn't even need to be rubbed hard or with much liquid polish. I put 1 drop on the toothbrush and a little rub abd its gone


Old toohbrushes never get thrown away here. So many different uses.

[camaraderie]

Miracle Cloth is available at West Marine and it works better than anything else we've ever tried on stainless AND brass.
Practical-Sailor Quote...
"The Miracle Cloth is the hands-down winner. It works. It’s fast. It’s not messy. It can be used multiple times."

[Robertcateran]

Go synthetic and avoid the problem. I am very nervous of SS after a stay had some streaks on it and I discovered the core of the wires were rusted out

[Forzanove]

I usually use this products, or similar, and they works well.

[bstreep]

Another vote for Miracle Cloth. It really is one of the few products that actually lives up to it's reputation. I can do the whole boat in less than an hour.

Here's a tip: Do the base of stantions and fittings first. As you use the cloth, it darkens with tarnish. This will get on the fiberglass - and then have to be removed. If you do this part with the clean cloth, you won't have that problem.

[Kanani]

Most (if not all) chemical remedies involve dissolving the corrosion which merely opens the pitting back up to further sea water intrusion and corrosion.

The better solution is good old fashioned elbow grease and polishing compound that has a very fine abrasive, thereby removing the pitting, over time.

[Caribsailors]

I use osphoric acid and a 1/2 or 1" paint brush. I will paint all stanchions and lifelines and hardware. When I get to my last one I go back to the first and wash down with fresh water. Works great on removing rust stains from the gelcoat also.

Cheers

[roverhi]

Bar Keeper's Friend. It's a very mild abrasive with Oxalic acid that cleans stainless in no time. It's been around for more than a 100 years but still the best stainless cleaner out there. You may be able to find it at Walmart.

If you don't mind buying in industrial quantities, Oxalic acid is a great rust remover and wood bleach. Works a treat on exterior teak and will remove most rust stains without scrubbing.

Aloha
Peter O.

[Forzanove]

You must be very carefull because oxalic acid is aggressive, and time by time it might cause little damage, I usually don't like any kind of acid, but I know it works fast.

[bastonjock]

i preferr to use products such as 3m,s compound,it comes in 3 different grade.One word of caution,if you use rubbing compound to pollish your stainless,read the contents label,if it has ammonia in its composition,do not get it on the gelcoat ammonnia will turn your gelcoat yellow