Cleaning prop shaft and prop

[daymer]

Hi doing my first season prep and i've got a prop shaft and prop with 'left over 'barnacles' from the power wash it got end of season. Any one got neat trick to remove left over barnacle residue, as have a reluctance to to use any wet and dry unless that is the only

• way

 

[alienzdive]

A grinder with a wire brush attachment is good, but needs to be used correctly to get a good finish and shine.

Make sure that the wire brush is not made of steel as it will impregnate a brass prop and cause rusting spots and electrolisys fizzing potentially if done often destroying the structural integrity of the prop.

 

[macca]

Hydrochloric acid works well - but of course you have to be very careful not to remove any metal.. I have used it on a folding prop where access for a wire brush etc. is difficult.

The acid comes at around 31% concentration. I dilute it 1 part acid to 5 parts water to get to around 5%. Insertion of the metal for about 10 minutes should get rid of most of the barnacles. The job is done when the fizzing stops. Afterwards good washing with water with a little bicarbonate of soda added neutralises the acid.

As bronzes may vary, you might need to experiment to find out a siolution strength which is strong enough to get the barnacles and weak enough to leave your bronze alone.

 

[daymer]

Thanks folks off to get suitable brush and mild acid - 2 weeks to go before i'm enjoying what I got the thing for - sailing!