Rusty Anchor Shackles

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lancelot

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Good afternoon all,
I have two very rusty shackles on my ancor chain which I want to replace. However, I need to take the rusty shackles off. Which method would be easier - saw, chisel, bolt cutters or similar cutting tool. I have tried spraying WD 40.
Any suggestions welcomed.
Fair winds,
Lancelot
 
lancelot said:
Good afternoon all,
I have two very rusty shackles on my ancor chain which I want to replace. However, I need to take the rusty shackles off. Which method would be easier - saw, chisel, bolt cutters or similar cutting tool. I have tried spraying WD 40.
Any suggestions welcomed.
Fair winds,
Lancelot
Click to expand...

angle grinder
 
WD40 is useless for seriously seized items it is notnearly 'penetrative' enough.

PlusGas works well. It is available from auto accessory shops in aerosols and tins. I find a tin best. It may need a few applications.

If that doesn't work you'll have to cut the shackle off. Not hard work with a decent blade, as they are only soft steel.

Try to get it off the boat before you start sawing otherwise the sawdust will corrode and leave brown spots all over the deck.
 
Much depends on the size of shackle and whether it's easy to get it off the boat and to a vice. I wouldn't use a grinder anywhere near the boat (unless well shielded) because the red hot grindings will embed themselves and bleed rust; boltcroppers require a bit of grunt but are a doddle on most boaty sizes ; a hacksaw with a decent 18tpi blade will also make short work if you are near a vice (or lock it over a cleat); a chisel can be hard work. You could also heat it cherry red for a minute or so, let it cool and it should unscrew with a shifter.
 
Never, ever use an angle grinder, file or hacksaw anywhere near your boat even to cut 316SS unless you have no alternative. You will get horrible rust marks. Bolt cutter would be the best option or remove the assembly and deal with it ashore.
 
Mole grips are better than nothing to hold it with if you've no vice to saw it in (Could even have a last attempt ot unscrew it with them first too.)

BTW...anyone know how to get rid of embedded filings causing rust stains...I found out the hard way about not using an angle grinder even on 316 SS ! Would an acid or some other chemical get rid of them without harming the deck ?
 
Removing rust stains and embeded particles

Use a blunt chisel to knock off the protruding particles then apply 'Spirit of salts' - strong hydrochloric acid to dissolve the remains. Leave on for about 15 minutes and wash of thoroughly.
 
Did mine last week with the boats bolt croppers. A fair bit of force needed but did the job and it was a fairly hefty shackle. Totally concur with not using angle grinder. I have seen the mess it leaves on someone elses boat ! If no croppers a decent hacksaw but again watch for swarf.

Chris
 
billcole said:
BTW...anyone know how to get rid of embedded filings causing rust stains...I found out the hard way about not using an angle grinder even on 316 SS ! Would an acid or some other chemical get rid of them without harming the deck ?
Click to expand...
What is the deck surface made of? For teak or GRP you should be able to scrub or wash off the filings themselves. Then oxalic acid for the mark left behind. I don't know about textured coatings or Treadmaster.
 
earlybird said:
Bolt cutters if available. Hacksaw really needs a vice, angle grinders need care to avoid rust stains on the deck. Best of luck with a chisel.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! Decent pair of bolt croppers will dispatch the offending shackles in 10 seconds with no swarf on deck
 
Manuel said:
What is the deck surface made of? For teak or GRP you should be able to scrub or wash off the filings themselves. Then oxalic acid for the mark left behind. I don't know about textured coatings or Treadmaster.
Click to expand...

GRP (including non-slip moulded section)... Scrubbing has had limited success, picking the individual specks out with a pin works but takes ages, so I'll give the hydrochloric acid a go (oxaylic gets rid of the stain, but it spreads again from the solid filings (which originated from a seized SS snapshackle clipped at the base of the mast when I bought the boat ))

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread too far off topic.
 
billcole said:
GRP (including non-slip moulded section)... Scrubbing has had limited success, picking the individual specks out with a pin works but takes ages, so I'll give the hydrochloric acid a go (oxaylic gets rid of the stain, but it spreads again from the solid filings (which originated from a seized SS snapshackle clipped at the base of the mast when I bought the boat ))
Click to expand...

Be careful if you have aluminium alloy deck fittings, toe-rails, etc. HCl eats Al for breakfast, lunch and dinner, burps and asks for more.
 
You can often loosen quite rusty shackles by applying a couple of sharp blows with a lump hammer before unscrewing with stillsons or the like after spraying with WD40. I unscrewed one last year using this method that had been immersed in Brixham harbour for 3 years. Since then I've used the technique successfully several times. Failing that a sharp hacksaw cuts through surprisingly quickly.
 
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