Marble work surface - removing rust

[Modulation]

Yes! I know! Why should a sailing boat be fitted with the decadence of marble! Anyway, Beneteau thought it was a good idea a few years back. Trouble is, they didnt use ss fittings to secure the sink bowls, with inevitable results. Does anybody of a way to neutralise the rust (it's white marble) without destroying the surface? Y10 did'nt work.

Brendan

Brendan

 

[gus]

I might get shot down in flames but I would try a brief application of 'Brick & concrete cleaner'. In otherwords Hydrochloric acid. Anywhere else I have tried it - on hard surfaces only! It has worked a treat at removing rust staining.

 

[jfkal]

Might solve the problem by eating rust AND marble as well.
Try at a hidden space first. I would sand it down and polish with marble polishing agent. See a doctor to get your elbows fixed afterwards, its a painful rubbing exercise (

 

[Guest]

No disrespect to previous post but Marble is porous and also a limestone base, therefore Brickcleaner will take away whatever finish you have leaving a rough surface, the rust will be inside and on top.

Suggest a weak mixture of bleach put over stained area, then left to soak in, follow up by placing kitchen towel/Newspaper over wet area and allow todraw out stain. Put a weighty object on top of the paper and repeat process. Good Luck

Mor Righ Westerly 30

 

[Trevor_swfyc]

Re: Marble + Acid

Marble is a form of limestone, calcium carbonate this would very likely be highly reactive the hydrochloric acid (concrete cleaner).

Haven't tried it but Oxalic acid is a much weaker acid so I would try using a 10% solution on cotton wool and rub an area which is out of sight first. You will see many references made to the use of this acid to remove rust in previous postings.

Please report back if this works ok.

Good luck.

Trevor.

 

[Guest]

Try contacting a Monumental Mason, I recently had a gravestone cleaned, it didn't cost much and looks like new. There wasn't any rust in this case but they must have met the problem.

I concur with previous comments about using acid. The textbook way that schools make carbon dioxide is (or was 40 years ago) to put Hydrochloric Acid on marble chips.

 

[harvey]

Look in PBO December 2001 page 123 for a rust stain remover called MAGICA. It works!

 

[vyv_cox]

Weak organic acids will take off the rust without damaging the marble. Oxalic (Teak Brite, Y10), citric (lemon juice), acetic (vinegar) will all work but slowly in domestic concentrations. I would go for Teak Brite, I use it to take anchor warp stains off the deck, which it does in about 2 seconds. Dip a wet brush in the powder and rub it on. Superb for stains on topsides also. Test a hidden part of the marble first, just in case. Although it may be called marble it could be nearly anything.