oldbilbo
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I have several anchors stored in the shed, each of which is now somewhat rusty. I'm considering grit-blasting and painting them. Has anyone a comment from experience on 'painting my anchor'? Conversely, what colour...? 
Rusty anchors
- Thread starter oldbilbo
- Start date
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
I have several anchors stored in the shed, each of which is now somewhat rusty. I'm considering grit-blasting and painting them. Has anyone a comment from experience on 'painting my anchor'? Conversely, what colour...?
I don't think it can be done.
I've had a look round B&Q and found radiator paint, hot pipe paint, cupboard paint, fence paint, door paint, but no anchor paint.
theoldsalt
Well-Known Member
Many years ago as a youth I remember seeing a steel tabernacle heated up in a bonfire, wire-brushed and painted with zinc paint. This system was used as a cheap form of galvanising and it seemed to work.
I copied this method some years later when making steel fittings for my first wooden boat (I used a blow lamp not a bonfire in my case). I used them for several years and they didn't rust.
Mind you - the bristles of the brushes didn't last long so only old brushes were used. These days you could spray the paint.
I copied this method some years later when making steel fittings for my first wooden boat (I used a blow lamp not a bonfire in my case). I used them for several years and they didn't rust.
Mind you - the bristles of the brushes didn't last long so only old brushes were used. These days you could spray the paint.
Gordonmc
Well-Known Member
If you are going to the bother and expense of grit-blasting why not go the next step and have them re-galvanised?
You might even be able to recoup some of the cost by flogging a couple.
Failing that, wire-brush them and coat them with Zinga, the next best thing to hot-dip galvanising.
You might even be able to recoup some of the cost by flogging a couple.
Failing that, wire-brush them and coat them with Zinga, the next best thing to hot-dip galvanising.
RichardS
N/A
The problem with an anchor is the abrasion on the fluke where it digs into the seabed. Unless you are only anchoring in soft mud, my experience is that any form of paint will be very quickly abraded away.
The shank and the top of the fluke stays beautiful though!
Richard
The shank and the top of the fluke stays beautiful though!
Richard
sarabande
Well-Known Member
I don't see why it can't be done. If OB is prepared to accept that the ablative effect of sand and rock will remove paint from certain leading edges and other contact points, then any decent primer plus top coat will give him an anchor in any colour to delight his eye.
Rustoleum products have got lots of metal primers, and our agricultural steel man uses them for new work which is not galvanised.
http://www.rustoleum.co.uk/products
Rustoleum products have got lots of metal primers, and our agricultural steel man uses them for new work which is not galvanised.
http://www.rustoleum.co.uk/products
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I did our Delta with primer and zinc-rich paint bought in a French DIY shop. It lasted very well, although the paint on the tip wore fairly early on. That was in 2006, the anchor was used for two full seasons and then consigned to a locker as a spare. It still looks pretty good, very little rust.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Isn't this the sort of thing that yacht clubs do well perhaps? Make up a members pallet load of chain and chandlery for regalving?
I did once paint the main anchor white which was quite effective for observing in clearer water.
I did once paint the main anchor white which was quite effective for observing in clearer water.
MM5AHO
Well-Known Member
An interesting aspect of galvanizing (or re-galvanizing in this case) is that it makes the anchor more abrasion resistant that the mild steel base metal.
Some of the various layers in a galvanized coating (alloys of iron and zinc) are harder than mild steel.
We seem to get about 2-3 a week in our place for re-galv, often with the chain.
Some of the various layers in a galvanized coating (alloys of iron and zinc) are harder than mild steel.
We seem to get about 2-3 a week in our place for re-galv, often with the chain.
dutyhog
Well-Known Member
After years of chipping, scraping, brushing and putting on various kinds of paint - then rust flaking away again by the end of the season, I finally got it regalvanised this year and couldn't be more delighted with the result. Wish I'd had it done years ago before it had lost 2kg of weight.
wazza
Well-Known Member
Painted ours a few times with different types of paint with no great results. Our anchor now looks well used, as it is!!
bill bligh
Well-Known Member
AS blueboatman said (I did once paint the main anchor white which was quite effective for observing in clearer water) so did I very good result
nathanglasgow
Well-Known Member
Spare CQR that came with boat was what looked like a rusty pile of scrap but after a good going over with the angle grinder and couple of coats of silver metal paint it looks pretty good.Its the spare anchor so in all likelyhood will never be used much so for a couple of pounds we're satisfied.If it was to be used as main anchor then i would guess need repainting every season.
oldbilbo
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Just a note of appreciation for all the constructive comments. I'll be making use of them soon....
