Removing Old Cetol from Stainless

[divicolouis]

Anyone have a good method for Removing old dried, baked on cetol from stainless? Ive tried MEK and laq thinner with no joy
tia

[gulfstar37]

We've had good luck using a heat gun when removing previous Cetol on both teak and any other surface it may be on. I'm sure it would work on stainless.

Acetone as a solvent will soften it and may help if there is a thin residue left over to be removed.

Happy sailing.

[Pau Hana Daz]

Previous owner of our boat used Cetol on the teak swim ladder treads, but neglected to remove them from the stainless ladder to do so. The result was a grungy looking ladder. We had good luck cleaning it off by first liberally wiping with acetone to soften it, then cleaning/polishing with Barkeeper's Friend (I buy the liquid in the plastic bottle - keeps better than the powder in a paper can).

It looks so good that somebody is going to end up doing all of the stainless rails and stanchions...

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by DWJensen

Previous owner of our boat used Cetol on the teak swim ladder treads, but neglected to remove them from the stainless ladder to do so. The result was a grungy looking ladder. We had good luck cleaning it off by first liberally wiping with acetone to soften it, then cleaning/polishing with Barkeeper's Friend (I buy the liquid in the plastic bottle - keeps better than the powder in a paper can).

It looks so good that somebody is going to end up doing all of the stainless rails and stanchions...

000 steel wool?

[HopCar]

Redcobra, never, never, never let steel wool on a boat! The little bits that break off will leave rust stains everywhere. Use bronze wool.

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by redcobra

000 Bronze wool?

Or 3M abrasive pads. I think the purple one is equivalnt to 000 steel....err...bronze wool.

[MysticFred]

Concur with the heat gun and use a piece of wood to scrape it off ... won't damage the finish. Remove any thin remaining film with a solvent.

I use a heat gun designed for applying shrink covering for model airplanes not an industrial strength heat gun that will set the place on fire.