Copper Grease (silly and stupid question)?

[RichardTaylor]

A really silly and probably stupid idea but here is the question?

Has anyone every applied copper grease (used to stop squealing car brakes) in their propeller as an antifoul?

The H&S sheet says it is not soluble in water and therefore maybe with its copper content this would prevent fouling of the propeller?

<flameproof suit is now on?????>

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

What does the spec say about temperature range? Do not forget about 'Cavitation' where the temperature is very localised.

 

[ccscott49]

It will come off, very quickly as the prop thrashes about, not even worth a try, been tried, no go, sorry.

 

[Saddletramp]

Dairy farmers use udder cream with a high lanolin content. It is also very viscous. It will be quite cheap as well.

 

[Kawasaki]

Good for the skin too.
Been used in the past for lubing Cyclists rears as a preverntion of Saddle Soreness.
Good ter rub on yer mits if yer have delicate digits before doin a bit of Gardening.
But if yer like most boaty peeps I know yer won't be doin much of that!
Lots of peeps use Lanolin, haven't meself but could be as good as Lanolin.
No I won't do an udder , rudder Pun! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[castaway]

Lanolin is what you need, I'm using it this year as another couple of owners in our yard.

I think that the pot I bought from my Chandlers cost 8 quid or so which is enough to do my fairly big prop for 2 seasons (I hope).

It is messy to apply. I used a heat gun to get the prop good un 'ot...and ensured that the Lanoline was hot also.

I plan soon to take the boat over to Ryde and lean it against the wall there to do my usual late summer look over to check how the various under water bits have performed.

I remember not so long ago people were talking about how good that stuff that you put on babies bottoms is as an antifoul!!

Regards Nick

 

[capt_courageous]

There is no such thing as a silly question. Confucious say ' He who asks a question feels like a fool for five minutes, he who does not is a fool forever. '

 

[Billjratt]

a couple of my mobo mates used lanolin in Alicante this year. It had to be cooked to apply and was a bit of a pain. checking later in the season, the props and shafts were covered in the local coralworm so it was a no-go there. If you're a slow-revver it might be different.

 

[Pasarell]

As several people have said, it will almost certainly come off very quickly. Vortexes at tips of propellors are very aggressive to anything on them and will probably pull it off progressively from tips towards hub.

More importantly I would be very wary of putting copper onto most props. If it's bronze you will almost certainly dezincify the prop no matter how well protected with anodes and that gets expensive!

Lanolin coatings as said above, applied hot as it will be very hard seems to be the best lowish cost option. Silicone elastomers are much more expensive but have a good multi season reputation. The name I know is Propspeed from New Zealand but there may be others.

No connections etc and not even a customer!

 

[BobPrell]

A bronze propellor should have no zinc in it.

brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, plus a small amount of other things depending on the type of bronze.

cheers.

 

[ccscott49]

True, but lots of stuff is called bronze, but aint! It has zinc in it as well.
But proper bronze is copper and tin.

Mind you not many real bronze props around!
If you see copper spots appearing on a prop, or deterioration to copper sponge, it aint bronze!

 

[RichardTaylor]

Well it has been nice to promote some discussion on this. From the comments about de-zincification this would put me off experimenting with copper grease.

However the comments about Silicone has got me thinking about using a silicon grease now???

(BTW - Engine is a MD7a on a Westerly Griffon Yacht, so prop speed is not fast)

Thanks for your comments so far, Richard

 

[Pasarell]

Agree it should have no zinc in it but as Englander said there is a lot of stuff called bronze.
When I bought my boat last year it had a "bronze" propellor that had de-zincified. Quite pink in patches and easily chipped. Even if you know its proper bronze I wouldn't put copper grease on it.

 

[TheBoatman]

I agree.
If yer brand new, recently fitted "brass" coloured prop turns pink you need to seriously look at your anode/wiring set up because you have a problem with electrolysis.

A pink prop may look in good condition (no nicks or chinks) but if you take it off the shaft and hold it in yer hand and give a quick tap wiv a hammer it should "ring", but I bet if it's pink you'll get a dull thud.

I would never dream of putting copper grease on a prop because it'll drive the electrolysis mad.

AND just as an aside ~ don't be tempted to grease the prop shaft before fitting the prop ~ that's a complete NO-NO.
Peter.

 

[Pasarell]

Just noticed your comment about silicone grease Paximoon. I don't think it will work and it's very different from a silicon elastomer. If you do try grease be very careful where you get it and where you touch with contaminated hands, cloths etc. Silicon and future painting just don't mix!

 

[lexi]

AFAIK there is little if any copper in copper grease.

Alex

 

[ex-Gladys]

Lanolin is a complete waste of time on the east coast. I think the flora and fauna over here like it. The prop on previous boat was worse than the shaft at the end of the seaason (prop lanolined, shaft left bare)