Cleaning Up Stainless Props

[JamesTT]

Any tips on how to get my stainless prop set shiny again?

I tried brick acid/cleaner last year that wasn't very succesful.

 

[DavidJ]

I use the green Scots-brite pads. For me they have just the right abrasion qualities to take off the crud and give a nice finish.
The banacles will need a scrape with a Homebase stainless steel scraper

 

[cliffdale]

I haven't tried this yet to varify it but I heard that household de-scaler, the stuff used to remove lime is good.

Normally, I use 400 grit wet and dry paper and this works well. It is tough cutting through the limescale / shell lining you get, hence next year, I will try the de-scaler first to soften the stuff!

CD

 

[jhr]

I use Starbrite hull cleaner - it has dilute Hydrochloric (I think) acid in it, and that takes everything off a treat. I then use very fine sandpaper to expose a new surface, otherwise the prop has a slight tendency to rust. (I can't remember the rationale for this, but there is some science behind it somewhere /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif).

 

[carlton]

For years I've used kettle-descaler in boiling water. Takes a few hours soaking, but generally does the job.

This year I thought I'd try something different, so I spent £9.99 on this set of attachments from Screwfix.

Job took about half an hour for two props and they're now as shiney as two very shiney things indeed.

 

[spannerman]

Aluminium wheel cleaner, spray on rinse off, removes the chalky deposits easily.

 

[thefatlady]

Hydrochloric acid removes the chromium oxide layer on the surface which is what prevents stainless steel rusting - hence the rust you've seen. By abrading the surface afterwards, you expose a fresh surface which oxidises immediately.

An alternative is sulphamic acid (Carlton's kettle descaler) which takes longer but doesn't destroy the oxide layer.

 

[JamesTT]

Thanks All,

Used limescale remover, Scotch pads and wheel cleaner, they have come up great!