Cleaning a rusty anchor chain

[KenLee]

Your help please. What's the best way to clean a rusty anchor chain? Many thanks.

 

[robstracey]

Hammerite make a product called 'KURUST'. I used it on my chain and it worked perfectly, just wire brush off the loose rust, put on KURUST, and paint over after three hours. Couldnt be easier.

 

[KenLee]

Thanks, Rob. I'll give it a go.

 

[Vara]

Painting an anchor chain will condemn you to a lifetime of flaky paint on the foredeck every time you weigh anchor and fill well with bits of paint,which will congregate and block drain.My advice would be to live with the rust unless it's compromising the integrity of the chain.Or just treat with one of the rust convertors and leave out the painting bit.

 

[ccscott49]

Without doubt the best way, is to get the chain re-galvanised, they will dip the chain, to remove the rust. Painting it or even using kurust (rust converter) is pointless.

 

[hylass]

I will say, the ONLY way would be to re-galvanise the chain..

But first you have to make sure that the links are not worn. A decrease of 1/10 of the diameter of the rod is the maximum, mostly at the points of contact between the links..

Then you should select a galvanisation company equipped with a “spinner” as, when the chain is coming out of the liquid zinc, it as to be vigorously shacked during the cooling process, to avoid the links to be welded together by the zinc..

If you have painted colour marks on the chain, it could be wise to burn them before the galvanic process.. Normally the acid bath before galvanisation should remove them.. but, just in case...

Peaceful anchorages,

Alain