Rusty galvanised chain - cleaning

Irish Rover

Irish Rover

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There was another thread about this 6 months ago so sorry for rehashing but I want to ask a specific possibly stupid question.
Rusty Chain?
My 10mm chain looks fairly sound but has a lot of surface rust. On my powercat the chain roller is about 2 metres back from the bow and the windlass another metre aft. The result is frequent rust spatters on the forward deck. I know that hydrochloric acid is used for cleaning rust from metal. So could I try spraying the chain in the anchor locker with a solution, and if so, what's the best way to go about it. I plan to replace the chain when I lift the boat next year.
 
Depends how much is rusty. If it is not too much give it a good wire brush and spray it with Hammarite silver. Easy job as I hang it up from something suitable and spray 2 meters at a time jiggling it about to get between the links. Very therapeutic easy job or you could get it regalvanised. The Hammerite looks lovely afterwards.
 
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Before someone makes a comment, I do not expect it to last more than a couple of years but it will save that rusty stain behind the bow roller, and also looks shiny new.
 
I used to drag my ground chain around the boat yard gravel . Got rid of the worst rust, to enable inspection. For you: Fresh water wash and high galv spray. Won’t last long tho’.
 
vyv_cox said:
Hydrochloric acid will attack the zinc almost as quickly as it will attack rust. Try an organic acid, citric, oxalic, etc but I don't hold out a lot of hope.
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Thanks Vyv. I was hoping you'd happen along. I'll leave it as is and just clean the deck as necessary with a weak solution of oxalic acid.
 
wallacebob said:
I used to drag my ground chain around the boat yard gravel . Got rid of the worst rust, to enable inspection. For you: Fresh water wash and high galv spray. Won’t last long tho’.
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I also drag my rusty chain along dirt roads behind my car to remove most of the rust the galvanizing reprocess pre dip in Hydrochloric acid will remove what is left
 
Not done it on chain yet but vegetable oil and rubbing with aluminium are effective on rusty steel.

The level of protection achievable will depend on how much work you want to do, since chain is an awkward shape and will be labour intensive to treat thoroughly.

Should be easy to wash the salt off, dry and then oil and drain the chain, giving the oil time to set before using it, I usually use sunflower oil but boiled linseed will set quicker.

Even this will probably stay tacky for a long time though, and will mark the deck until it sets completely. SFO sets quicker with aluminium

Actually abrading the rust with aluminium will require handwork or a drill. For this I'd probably use a spiral wrap of beercan aluminium around an (ideally aluminium) rod. This acts like a flap wheel. It may also transfer some galvanising into the contact points on the ends of the links, which tend to rust first.
 
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Irish Rover said:
Yeah. I've been thinking about doing that, and I may well do. The only small complication is I'll probably need to do it going astern to prevent the chain scraping the hulls.
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If you wish to go forward, extend the rope attaching the chain to the boat and connect to the stern. I suspect no one will notice what you are doing.
 
Irish Rover said:
Thanks Vyv. I was hoping you'd happen along. I'll leave it as is and just clean the deck as necessary with a weak solution of oxalic acid.
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Or you could dip your hand in your pocket or open your wallet and treat your boat to some nice stainless chain. After the initial shock you will thank me for the suggestion. 😁
 
Poignard said:
Put it in a cement mixer with some sand and water
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Now that is not such a bad idea - as long as the amount of chain does not overload the mixer !!

But honestly - the sand and gravel road or sea bed is a good way .... then FW rinse ... dry and Hammerite spray.

I would not be so inclined to go the boiled linseed oil way ... its messy ... sticky in heat ... and basically does nothing about the rust.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Or you could dip your hand in your pocket or open your wallet and treat your boat to some nice stainless chain. After the initial shock you will thank me for the suggestion. 😁
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I may well do that but right now its the price the marina want to charge me for a liftout that's gnawing at me. Frucking bandits want over €2,000 even though the lift is mostly idle, the operator is playing pocket billiards all day, and the yard is practically empty.
 
Irish Rover said:
I may well do that but right now its the price the marina want to charge me for a liftout that's gnawing at me. Frucking bandits want over €2,000 even though the lift is mostly idle, the operator is playing pocket billiards all day, and the yard is practically empty.
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Blimey .... yard here lifts up to 20T ..... 80 euros to 'friends' ... 100 euros official.
 
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