Rust Removal Question

[DennisM]

I'd be grateful if someone could tell me the best way to remove the rust spots from my stainless steel and the stains on the deck around it, per the photo below. Thanks in advance.

[forsailbyowner]

Whink brand name sold in cleaning section at grocery store or walmart brown bottle . Oxalic?sp. Acid. Wipe on rust disappears.

[DennisM]

Thank you, forsail!

[speciald@ocens.]

I use a product from Home Depot (?Rust away). I think it is phosphoric acid. Spray on wash off in 10 minutes; doesn't harm gel coat. I then use a marine quality wax on the stantions.

[DennisM]

Wax? Really? I assume that helps prevent further rust and also makes the stainless shine nicely. Thanks for the tip. (Can you tell I'm a total rookie?)

[bstreep]

Home - Spotless Stainless Removes Rust, Protects Stainless Steel

This product really works, and is especially good at what you are trying to do. We still like Miracle Cloth for long stretches of stainless, but it isn't very good at the deck level. The spotless will also remove the stain from the deck.

[DennisM]

Thanks, Bill. I will bookmark that page. My hope is to get a bunch of the rust removed before launch, and I won't have access to a hose for washing down until after launch. But I'd like to try that product on anything I haven't finished by launch.

[barnakiel]

We use Autosol and it works great - it cleans and passivizes (so I believe), and leaves a fine slick coat that keeps the rust from re-appearing.

b.

[DennisM]

Thank you, barnakiel!

[Pegasus44]

Almost any acid will do the job of removing rust. Most rust removal products use some sort of acid. It will also eat the metal away so you have to be careful when applying it. Used on the staunchen hold down screws it could weaken them so keep an eye on where you use it. Remove a sample every once and a while to keep a check on it's condition. I use The Must For Rust $11 a bottle but there are many products. To givce you an idea of how damaging the acids can be: I kept spraying my stainless anchor swival. After 3 years the 5/8" SS bolt rusted through under the threads. Fortunately the anchor fell off in shallow water and I was able to recover it. Safe cruising Pegasus44

[DennisM]

Thank you for the tips, Pegasus. Yikes! on the rust-through.

[daddle]

Common muriatic acid will blacken stainless steel. Thus the recommendation to use diluted phosphoric or oxalic. If it's affecting the base metal you've mixed it too strong.

[zeehag]

barkeepers friend--rinse it off---is gentler than acids and less damaging to gelcoats---wont kill the cat and will remove all the rust..doesnt turn colors or ruin anything ..LOL