Rust stains on fiberglass deck

[NZGrant]

Ok I stuffed up and ended up with real small iron filings over my deck. Does anyone have any brilliant ways to remove them without a full repaint ?


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[Lepke]

In the field during the Vietnam war, we used a magnet to remove grenade fragments from eyeballs.

[El Pinguino]

I haven't quite got to that stage in my refit but I have been told to use 'Grunt Emer-gel' Grunt Emer Gel- Rust, Stain & Oxidation Remover 1ltr | SmartMarine

[JPA Cate]

NZgrant,

Oxalic acid crystals, dissolved in water, wash it on, let set, rinse it off. The Emergel Grunt, mentioned above is a great product, a gel, and is good on large stains, too, but I don't think one jar would do a whole deck. Maybe, though.

Ann

[Stu Jackson]

FSR.

Kate's On & Off is toxic. I threw mine out.

[gjordan]

I used OSPHO, and a bristle brush, then a good rinse. It might lighten the paint/gelcoat color a little, but that is better than a repaint. My 2 cents worth. _____Grant.

[Wanderlust]

I got the same problem in my non slip after using a grinder to cut some stainless. Although I thought I washed the stuff away, a whole lot of rust stains appeared after a week or two.

As noted by Ann, oxalic acid in powder form (from the hardware store) is really cheap and does the job. In my case, the spots reappeared, but after a scrub and second treatment that was it.

[NZGrant]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone


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[arsenelupiga]

i will give you best free receipe before you ruin fibreglass with cancer causing chemiclas:

just wait. it will go away in 3 mths.

that is what i have done.

[jpstevens]

Barkeepers Friend works really well. Just make up a little paste, let it remain for a few minutes, then wash it off. Inexpensive and lots of other uses also.

[surazo]

As Ann said , Oxalic acid works quite well .I'm using now in several parts of my boat with Iron oxide .Notice that it works well with Fe2O3 and not with stainless steel.The dosis is 1 spoon by half or more and wait the reaction ,then clean and stop the proces with water a lot of water .It doesnt affect the fiber,plastic or rubber .Don't leave the iron pieces in place because going to produce a iron stain .good luck

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

FSR.

Kate's On & Off is toxic. I threw mine out.

FSR is just oxalic acid in a very expensive gel form.

On&Off is phosphoric and hydrochloric acid.

While phosphoric and hydrochloric acids can burn a bit on skin contact, oxalic acid is far more toxic systemically - even through skin contact. If one were making a health bet (by not using any type of protection), I would bet on the On/Off.

Bartender's Friend is also oxalic acid.

Oxalic acid is great for removing rust stains, in the manner Ann Cate describes. However, it is dirt cheap in hardware stores, so no reason to pay 50x as much for FSR. Even cheaper than Bartender's Friend.

Sometimes oxalic acid is sold under the name "wood bleach".

Mark

[boatman61]

1/4 cup bleach.. 1/4 cup white vinegar and a 1/4 inch paint brush..
Dip n Dab.. then wash off... just keep the cup downwind.. the fumes are..PHEWWWWWWW.!!

[sailcrazy]

A couple of stink-pot drivers recommended a product called "Magica" to us a few months ago. While the sprayer on the bottle seems to have a high failure rate, the water-like liquid really works. Apply with a toothbrush or a paint brush, give it a few minutes, and then wash it and the rust stains away. It really works well...we've used it on both a painted F/G coachroof surface and on a painted non-skid surface.

[Cheechako]

Get it done asap with acid or it will become permanent. It's the iron that rusts.. doesn't matter if it's from SS or Steel... both have iron.