stretch33
New member
As the stick is down at the moment any thoughts on the best way to clean/polish it - l thought a bucket of soapy water followed by some sort of car polish or maybe solvol autosol. Or is it a case of wash it and leave it.
Mast matters
- Thread starter stretch33
- Start date
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
I cleaned mine with cheap auto polish last year, then rubbed Blakes Mast Oil on it. Results were generally ok, but a bit 'blotchy' in one or two places. Probably due to inconsistent amounts of elbow grease.
burgundyben
Well-known member
Not Autosol
I think solvol autosol is both abrasive and has an agressive chemical nature, your mast is anodised I suspect, therefore, just clean soap and maybe some sort of protection.
Anodising is only microns thick so be carefull with it.
burgundyben, coolest of men, by all I'm called, cool burgundyben.
I think solvol autosol is both abrasive and has an agressive chemical nature, your mast is anodised I suspect, therefore, just clean soap and maybe some sort of protection.
Anodising is only microns thick so be carefull with it.
burgundyben, coolest of men, by all I'm called, cool burgundyben.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Best of luck! My mast, now 15 years old, was down last winter. Keeping it in a fairly industrial area has caused a lot of blackening of the surface that is normally exposed to the air, compared with the parts covered by the sail cover. I tried a few detergents and non abrasive cleaners first, these did virtually nothing. I then picked up a suggestion that alloy wheel cleaners worked well, so I tried one. It was better than the detergents but nowhere near perfect.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Mast matters Why polish?
Why would you want to do more than wash down to get rid of grime/salt?
I was always told that it was the surface oxidation is what gives aluminium is corrosion protection, every time you polish it, you remove the oxidised layer, which means the oxidisation process starts all over again.
Why would you want to do more than wash down to get rid of grime/salt?
I was always told that it was the surface oxidation is what gives aluminium is corrosion protection, every time you polish it, you remove the oxidised layer, which means the oxidisation process starts all over again.
Avocet
Well-known member
Re: Mast matters Why polish?
I'm told that many detergents will attack aluminium - some quite viciously! The anodising will protect it to some extent but using detergents might do more long term harm than good!
I'm told that many detergents will attack aluminium - some quite viciously! The anodising will protect it to some extent but using detergents might do more long term harm than good!
LeonF
Active member
I used Polytrol available from most chandlers. Cleans and leaves a slight protective film.
L.A.R.Ferguson
L.A.R.Ferguson
andy_wilson
New member
Clean up time
Paraffin (or Diesel) and nylon pan scrub.
As directed by Southern Spars - Selden agents.
Paraffin (or Diesel) and nylon pan scrub.
As directed by Southern Spars - Selden agents.