mystymike
Member
What can I use to clean off black rub marks and re-coat bare surfaces and what substance would I use to give the mast a general clean up. (Mast down) Many thanks. Mike
Cleaning an Anodised mast
- Thread starter mystymike
- Start date
VicS
Well-Known Member
If it is anodised then just wash and polish. You do not want to remove any of the anodising! There is or was a coating called Alluchrome or something similar. It is or was used in the aerospace industry for coating unanodised aluminim I believe. I dont know where you would find it though.
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Blakes Mast Care
"Mast Care is a special product for cleaning and protecting masts, booms and various rigging fittings and wires made of aluminium. It contains a silicone free oil with excellent penetration into aluminium, thus ensuring extremely long term protection."
"Mast Care is a special product for cleaning and protecting masts, booms and various rigging fittings and wires made of aluminium. It contains a silicone free oil with excellent penetration into aluminium, thus ensuring extremely long term protection."
Dipper
Well-Known Member
My first boat had a tatty aluminium mast with a few spots of corrosion and a rough surface. I removed all the fittings and sanded smooth (very gently) using 1200 grit wet and dry used wet. I then applied Owertrol with a brush and immediately wiped over with a cloth to remove any excess. A second coat of Owertrol had the mast shining! This lasted several years before I had to retreat with Owertrol (no wet and dry needed) and it seemed to keep all the corrosion spots under control.
I don't know how thick anodising is but it is very thin. Some people may advise that using wet and dry is inappropriate and could cause damage but 1200 grit is probably only as abrasive as a polish.
I don't know how thick anodising is but it is very thin. Some people may advise that using wet and dry is inappropriate and could cause damage but 1200 grit is probably only as abrasive as a polish.
npf1
Well-Known Member
Reminds me ... anyone know is it possible to have an older mast re-anodised? Just curious - not thinking of doing it.
Chrissie
Well-Known Member
I am about to clean my mast, its painted in a golden coloured coating, which is a little patchy, and what does anodised mean?
VicS
Well-Known Member
Theoretically possible but it would have to be stripped to the bare extrusion and put through the same process as a new extrusion. Results will be disappointing if there is any corrosion or other damage. It may be difficult to find an anodisers who would do it. Our local one won't afaik.
VicS
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
and what does anodised mean?
[/ QUOTE ] It means that a very thin layer of aluminium oxide is created on the surface by an electrolytic process.
On a smal scale is quite easy to do. First the article is cleaned and all existing oxide removed with castic soda solution. The oxide layer is formed by making the article the anode (hence the term anodising) in an electrolytic bath containing sulphuric acid. I forget all the details about concentrations & current density etc. The oxide film is "fixed" by immersion in boiling water IIRC. Coloured dyes can be absorbed by the oxide layer before fixing.
Done it in the lab for demontration purposes. Dyed some orange as well using fabric dye but not had much succes with other colours.
and what does anodised mean?
[/ QUOTE ] It means that a very thin layer of aluminium oxide is created on the surface by an electrolytic process.
On a smal scale is quite easy to do. First the article is cleaned and all existing oxide removed with castic soda solution. The oxide layer is formed by making the article the anode (hence the term anodising) in an electrolytic bath containing sulphuric acid. I forget all the details about concentrations & current density etc. The oxide film is "fixed" by immersion in boiling water IIRC. Coloured dyes can be absorbed by the oxide layer before fixing.
Done it in the lab for demontration purposes. Dyed some orange as well using fabric dye but not had much succes with other colours.
