Cleaning Stainless

[bottleinamessage]

Is not my favorite task. I recently heard about a new product for cleaning rust off stainless. I ordered some and upon arrival I tried it on a rusty snap shackle. Amazing results! NO rubbing, just brush on an wait!

I have no interest in the company, just sharing some good news.

www.spotlessstainless.com

[phantomracer]

just bought some.. going to try it.. If it works half as good as they say, it will save a lot of time!

[Vasco]

Got a free sample last year. Works great. Going to buy some this season. It's got to be warm ( 70+) and you have to spray water on it to keep it damp but it does work well.

[ReMetau]

I've heard that it does well.

We use Collinite's Metal Wax and are very happy with it.

[swagman]

I suspect (someone can maybe check the label) it is simply an oxalic acid base held in solution.

There are a number of manufacturers in the EU of various good products that work really well, but if you want to save money you can easily make it yourself for pennies.

Oxalic acid crystals from a pool shop can be bought by the tub - they use it to remove stains from fibreglass pools. We've used diluted 1:100 with fresh water we used it to remove water born rust stains from white hull - painted and glass.
Mixed 1:200 it brightens teak.
And mix it 1:10 with water and any stiffener to make a paste (we've used micro baloons OK) and you can dob it on stainless anywhere (turnbuckles - overhead stainless bots - wire - whatever) leave for 20 minutes before washing off with fresh water. Great for getting into threads etc.
Remember it is an acid - so be sure to use gloves / glasses.
JOHN

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by swagman

I suspect (someone can maybe check the label) it is simply an oxalic acid base held in solution.

No it's not oxalic acid. If I remember right it's citric acid with some sort of passivator stuff added.

[phantomracer]

Any experience with the product about keeping it off other surfaces (ie teak, painted surfaces, glass, etc).

The product is cheap enough, and it is ready to use.. if it works well I will be happy.

Just not sure if you can go hog wild applying it..or have to be pretty precise and careful so you don't damage other surfaces.

[Vasco]

I don't know about teak but no problem on fiberglass or painted surfaces. I think Maine Sail (member of a few sites) has done a tutorial on it.

[gettinthere]

we had no problems when getting some of it on varnished teak toerail when appplying to stanchion bases

[PamlicoTraveler]

Here's what we use for our oxalic acid needs! A great cleaner of stainless.

[Vasco]

Great stuff. But the spotless stuff has a passivation agent in it which is really the best for stainless.

[Kefaa]

While on the subject of stainless - the last (ok - maybe more than the last) persons doing varnishing managed to drip it onto the rub rail. My guess is vanishing nearly upside down - makes neatness difficult.

So - do these or other options offer a good solution to getting varnish off the stainless? I did use rubbing compound, and when I finished the six inch area all the luster of the stainless was missing. Perhaps a second step too?

[bstreep]

The spotless stainless works... ok. We use it for joints and deck/stainless areas. You HAVE to keep it wet, and you HAVE to rinse it off completely.

For the other 80-90%, we use "Miracle Cloth" you can buy it at worst marine. It works extremely well, and leaves behind a protectant.