Cleaning Prop Blades

[roblpm]

Got my flex o fold prop blades in the garage. Is there any chemical stuff that will clean off the hard growth or is sandpaper the best way forward?

 

[Spyro]

Got my flex o fold prop blades in the garage. Is there any chemical stuff that will clean off the hard growth or is sandpaper the best way forward?

Brick acid?

 

[macd]

Brick acid?

aka hydrochloric acid, spirits of salts, muriatic acid, HCl. Harmless to "bronze" props but fizzes off marine crud nicely.
No need for the question mark: it works (although not all brick/patio cleaners contain HCl: read the spex).
Wear eye and skin protection, etc.

 

[blackbeard]

Yes, I imagine HCl would be effective; in fact any decent proprietary de-scaler will do. Just put (dis-assembled) prop and water in a bucket with jollop of choice. Eye and skin protection as above, and old clothes that don't matter. Any muck left on will come off easily. Burnish with very fine wet-n-dry if so inclined. If only hulls were as easily dealt with.

 

[Pete7]

This mounted in an angle grinder will clean your prop in 30 seconds and leave a smooth mat finish ideal for painting. It may look vicious but it isn't and leaves a really good finish without removing bronze.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-wir...ping - Tools&gclid=CITr-6K5kcsCFcsW0woddWoArg

 

[macd]

This mounted in an angle grinder will clean your prop in 30 seconds...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-wir...ping - Tools&gclid=CITr-6K5kcsCFcsW0woddWoArg

I suspect you need to review your link.

 

[Tranona]

This mounted in an angle grinder will clean your prop in 30 seconds and leave a smooth mat finish ideal for painting. It may look vicious but it isn't and leaves a really good finish without removing bronze.

That sounds like hard work when you can just drop the blades in a bucket of brick cleaner and pick them,out the next morning clean as a whistle!

 

[roblpm]

That sounds like hard work when you can just drop the blades in a bucket of brick cleaner and pick them,out the next morning clean as a whistle!

Yes that sounds more my style!

 

[macd]

Yes that sounds more my style!

If taking off the prop is too much of a faff, roblpm, you can apply HCl to the prop in situ with a paint brush. Repeated applications will be required every few minutes, but it will work.

 

[Tranona]

If taking off the prop is too much of a faff, roblpm, you can apply HCl to the prop in situ with a paint brush. Repeated applications will be required every few minutes, but it will work.

Its a Felxofold 2 blade so the blades are easy to take off. Exactly what I do - leave the blades and the rope cutter bits in descaler overnight. The hub of the prop tends not to get scale on it, particularly if dosed with Trilux. I do the blades as well with Trilux but that tends not to stick so well hence the need to descale from time to time.

 

[roblpm]

Its a Felxofold 2 blade so the blades are easy to take off. Exactly what I do - leave the blades and the rope cutter bits in descaler overnight. The hub of the prop tends not to get scale on it, particularly if dosed with Trilux. I do the blades as well with Trilux but that tends not to stick so well hence the need to descale from time to time.

Thanks. Prop blades are already off. Into the bucket tonight!!

 

[Halo]

Wow. I find 5 minutes in warm 50% diluted brick cleaner has them shining. Personaly I prefer to have them in the acid for minumum time

 

[Tranona]

Brick cleaner won't do any harm. However I used kettle descaler as the blades where only lightly fouled.

 

[{151760}]

Vinegar works too.

 

[pagoda]

That sounds like hard work when you can just drop the blades in a bucket of brick cleaner and pick them,out the next morning clean as a whistle!

+1

 

[roblpm]

Wow. I find 5 minutes in warm 50% diluted brick cleaner has them shining. Personaly I prefer to have them in the acid for minumum time

Eek! The others said overnight! I hope i don't go out and look for them tomorrow and they have disappeared?!

 

[richardbrennan]

I have a Volvo 3 blade folding prop and the hub is actually the most difficult bit to clean. It has a a rubber/plastic liner surrounding an alloy core; will it be safe in brick cleaner or is a more gentle descaler a better choice?

 

[Rum Run]

Vinegar works too.

+1
I use white vinegar from my local international supermarket. It's basically non-brewed condiment without having the caramel and costs not much at all.

 

[catmandoo]

+1
I use white vinegar from my local international supermarket. It's basically non-brewed condiment without having the caramel and costs not much at all.

I like your signature ---any suggestions for dingin a divot off my prop under water . Best I can come up with is plastic bag with acid in it wrapped round prop

 

[vyv_cox]

I have a Volvo 3 blade folding prop and the hub is actually the most difficult bit to clean. It has a a rubber/plastic liner surrounding an alloy core; will it be safe in brick cleaner or is a more gentle descaler a better choice?

Dilute hydrochloric acid has no effect on brass or bronze, nor any common plastics and rubbers. It can attack some aluminium alloys but not others, so go carefully. I would have thought that 10 minutes immersion was ample, certainly is on my toilet.