Rusty Stainless? Easy Fix!

[limecc]

A few weeks ago I suggested using Dragons Breath fallout remover to clean a rust stained expansion tank and that seemed to work well. I found the stuff also works to clean up rusty stainless fittings. It's PH neutral, easy to source, why not give it a try a report back?

 

[oldgit]

Oxalic acid.
Ebay £6.50 for 250g.

 

[limecc]

Oxalic acid.
Ebay £6.50 for 250g.

I must get some Oxalic acid, I read it's great for bleaching stained gelcoat.

 

[sparkie]

I must get some Oxalic acid, I read it's great for bleaching stained gelcoat.

Harpic lav bowl cleaner is just as good and easier to use- and a lot cheaper.....

 

[Neeves]

Oxalic Acid works well on horizontal surfaces as it has time to dissolve the rust (and stain). Its good to remove tannin stains on or near the waterline. On vertical surfaces it runs off too quickly, to react, and needs to be mixed with something (or bought already mixed with something) to allow it to cling and given time to react. Wall paper paste is one idea.

On a hull remember to wear safety glasses or goggles.

Jonathan

 

[rightstuff]

Always use wallpaper paste with oxalic acid to do the Hull works a treat

 

[markc]

Citric acid is great for stainless, buy it in powder form and mix as required. Nicer to use than oxalic

 

[alt]

Fallout remover (decent quality) is amazing, i'll never be without it again.

Oxalic Acid is also amazing, for STAINS.

Fallout remover will remove actual rust / fallout build-up / rust build-up, Oxalic acid will just remove rust stains.

Both excellent, but for different applications.

 

[alt]

Citric acid is great for stainless, buy it in powder form and mix as required. Nicer to use than oxalic

Is it good for a general 'shine up' or for removing stains / debris?

 

[Whopper]

Fallout remover (decent quality) is amazing, i'll never be without it again.

Oxalic Acid is also amazing, for STAINS.

Fallout remover will remove actual rust / fallout build-up / rust build-up, Oxalic acid will just remove rust stains.

Both excellent, but for different applications.

Agreed. Someone sprayed us in hot cutting filings a few years ago. Piers with the Fleming had a similiar issue at the time. For about a tiny fraction of the cost and effort I gather from the job piers posted I got as good results as you could hope for.

 

[markc]

Is it good for a general 'shine up' or for removing stains / debris?

It will remove rust stains on stainless steel and also passivates it

 

[Daydream believer]

Always use wallpaper paste with oxalic acid to do the Hull works a treat

An idiot in our sailing club volunteered to treat the club committee boat hull for me. I supplied the acid plus wallpaper paste. he duly applied all over but got fed up of work, so b..gered off & left it without telling me. Result was that paste went hard & it took a couple of days to get the b..y stuff off. Plus, the stains were still there, presumably because he put so much water in the oxalic crystals that they had no effect.

 

[sparkie]

Agreed. Someone sprayed us in hot cutting filings a few years ago. Piers with the Fleming had a similiar issue at the time. For about a tiny fraction of the cost and effort I gather from the job piers posted I got as good results as you could hope for.

What's "fallout remover"? Pardon my ignorance..

 

[Poignard]

I must get some Oxalic acid, I read it's great for bleaching stained gelcoat.

It is.

 

[limecc]

What's "fallout remover"? Pardon my ignorance..

What is a fallout remover - DetailingWiki, the free wiki for detailers

 

[sparkie]

What is a fallout remover - DetailingWiki, the free wiki for detailers

Well thanks very much for the link- everything one needs to know! Cheers.