coating new keel bolts

[ossygobbin]

hi
what are peoples thoughts r/e the best protective coating to apply to new keel bolts prior to fitting back into place. what are the best protective coatings for wrought iron keelbolts? and mild steel ones?also, does anyone know what is and where can i buy 'pitch' from . i have read that pitch was originally used to coat the keelbolts when first fitted. cheers ian

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[mickshep]

An old chap whose father had built boats once said that as a lad he'd helped his Dad prepare iron keel bolts. their method was to heat them to cherry red then drop them into a bucket of old engine oil. Can't comment myself but he reckoned that the oil 'burnt into the surface of the iron and helped preserve the bolts. Old wives tale??? I don't know but he was certain that they only did this with iron, never steel. Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>My Mum say's I'm not a fat b@st@rd, just heavy boned.

 

[Peterduck]

You'd be hard put to improve on hot-dip galvanising for those keel bolts. While I would countenance wrought iron bolts, I would have nothing to do with mild steel ones. Iron will be slow to corrode, but mild steel was almost designed to corrode. I use a 1/4 inch thick mild steel plate as an anode on my boat, and after 12 months it's all gone.
Pitch is a naturally ocurring asphalt, consisting of bitumen with a lime stabiliser. Try to track down a road repair company. and they will probably give you as much as you would require. It has to be melted to be usable. Alternatively, Jeffrey's seam glue would fill the bill.
Peter.

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[Spuddy]

I've read of but never tried "Chinese galvanising" which is heating to red and dropping in pitch.
Burnt oil finish was a standard blacksmith finish - I've tried that for mild steel stuff used around the workshop but doubt it would do much good in a marine setting.
Wrought iron far more resistant to corrosion than mild steel but can you get it now?


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[rjp]

Pitch is still used by builders for coating flat roofs, so probably available from a builder's merchant I would think.

If you go the galvanising route Bunner Galvanising in Liverpool are very helpful and possibly not too far away depending where you are in Lancashire. Ask for Trevor Bunner. Unlike some they have a minimum charge of only about £30 I think. They were recommended to me by a fellow 'classic' refitter and I used them for some deck fittings last summer.

John

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