On the hard beside an old steel ship, rust specks everywhere, remedies?

[Franziska]

So, we where besides some old steel ships on the hard and got a lot of rust specks on deck, likely blown over by the wind.


See the attached image.


We knew this might happen and accepted the risk, I don't blame anyone.
Not terribly angry about it either, workboat finish is ok to us for the most part.


Still, we like to get rid off this eventually.
Are there any permanent remedies short of repainting the deck (which plan to do eventually anyway but preferably not now)?


Thanks for suggestions.

[dlj]

I typically have Citrisurf 2310 on hand for many other reasons and discovered it works quite well for cleaning things like what you have there. It's a citric acid based passivation product, pretty easy to use and won't harm your deck. I would be careful around wood if you have areas that wood could be exposed to it.

dj

[wrwakefield]

I have had similar experiences- usually when downwind of someone grinding ferrous metal.

I use plain powdered citric acid in water for hull cleaning and removing cosmetic rust stains. [Environmentally neutral.]

Oxalic acid also works, but is not the first choice.

Best wishes for a brief time on the hard.

Cheers, Bill

[marcjsmith]

CLR and Startbrite rust remover would be my go to
I was on the hard this year for a couple months and have found some rust flecks and its frustrating but them's the breaks on the hard..

[Bill Seal]

We're docked down wind from a scrap yard where they load up bulk carriers with ground up cars to be shipped back overseas.
The Admiral uses peroxide and a pressure washer to clean the rust specks off the non-skid on our deck.

[MicHughV]

This happened to me one time.
It was a pain in the butt.
I resorted to getting the decks lightly sand blasted, which did the trick. The hose nozzle is kept some distance above the deck, so it doesn't affect the existing paint.

[Franziska]

Thanks everyone will try a few of those, good that not all is lost :-)

[bony]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Thanks everyone will try a few of those, good that not all is lost :-)

The best rust stain remover for your situation is Oxalic acid. It'll take the stains right off. I buy it in powdered form and mix up a solution with water. I think I used about 2 or 3 desertspoons full per litre. Brush the solution on, leave it for 30 minutes or so, then hose it off with copious amounts of water to neutralise it. I used it all over the non slip deck of a fibreglass boat I restored, it did the job and didn't harm the gelcoat. Wear protective gear, because Oxalic acid is poisonous.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by bony

The best rust stain remover for your situation is Oxalic acid. It'll take the stains right off. I buy it in powdered form and mix up a solution with water. I think I used about 2 or 3 desertspoons full per litre. Brush the solution on, leave it for 30 minutes or so, then hose it off with copious amounts of water to neutralise it. I used it all over the non slip deck of a fibreglass boat I restored, it did the job and didn't harm the gelcoat. Wear protective gear, because Oxalic acid is poisonous.

Thanks, I should be able to get that in Malta.
Did that take care of those specks for good, or did they come back?


No gelcoat but two component paint, guess that has no problem with oxalic acid either if rinsed off after 30 minutes.

[ZekeB]

The specks will not come back, unless the wind blows more of them over.

The oxalic acid reacts to split the rust (iron oxide) apart, and creates a new iron compound that dissolves in water. Apply, wait, scrub, rinse; scrub, rinse. If you still see them, reapply, maybe a little higher concentration.

It's not super poisonous; it's in foods, spinach for example, but I'll never advise anyone to be less safe. Especially with anything concentrated that can get in your eyes.

Also would keep it away from aluminum, since even though it's not as potent as sulphuric acid, the oxalic acid is still, umm, acidic.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by ZekeB

... The oxalic acid reacts to split the rust (iron oxide) apart, and creates a new iron compound that dissolves in water. Apply, wait, scrub, rinse; scrub, rinse. If you still see them, reapply, maybe a little higher concentration.

It's not super poisonous; it's in foods, spinach for example, but I'll never advise anyone to be less safe. Especially with anything concentrated that can get in your eyes....

Citric acid is nearly always sold as food grade, and in fact, it can be used dirrectly in recipes as a substitute for lemon juice and similar, according to the recipe (something for cruisers to consider--it keeps). Citrus, as a source, is a lot more obvious than spinach. As diluted for use, it is like getting lemon juice (5% citric acid) in your eye. In fact, it tastes like lemons.

[hpeer]

Will it come back?

Depends. I have a steel boat and have way too much experience with this issue. When you are grinding and cleaning old steel the dust goes everywhere.

We have been using the Starbrite Rust Remover, easy spray bottle with stream or mist setting.

If light then one coat will usually work. Heavier coating of steel will require more coats. It may look clean initially but will come back in a day or two. Just keep at it.

I have had lines collect the steel particles and them the lines will weep rust stains.

But I am talking about heavy duty contamination. Last year we replaced the mast step on the deck and this year cut off an old mild steel arch yhat was deck welded.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by ZekeB

The specks will not come back, unless the wind blows more of them over.

The oxalic acid reacts to split the rust (iron oxide) apart, and creates a new iron compound that dissolves in water. Apply, wait, scrub, rinse; scrub, rinse. If you still see them, reapply, maybe a little higher concentration.

It's not super poisonous; it's in foods, spinach for example, but I'll never advise anyone to be less safe. Especially with anything concentrated that can get in your eyes.

Also would keep it away from aluminum, since even though it's not as potent as sulphuric acid, the oxalic acid is still, umm, acidic.

Thanks for the explanation. Great to hear.

[pdx_sailing]

bar keepers friend, has oxalic acid and is easy in to get.

[stormalong]

Oxalic acid is also called wood bleach and is available in most hardware stores and some paint stores in the US. Hopefully is Malta too.

I wholeheartedly agree that is your best choice. I use it regularly. It is great on the Tanic acid stains you pick up in the ICW and the BC inner passage. But be aware that it also strips off your wax.