sail cleaning-grease

[jmp]

Have unfortunately got what i beleive to be graphite grease on sails,from the jib of a hi-ab touching the rigging when mast lifting.Tried most fluids i can think of without success.Is it ok to use acetone?.I am concerned it might dissolve the fabric.Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Michael

<hr width=100% size=1>jmp

 

[cliff]

Depends on fabric. Try soap and water first or propriatory degreaser failing that test a small area with each solvent. Tri-chloromathane is good for grease if you can lay your hands on some, pertol is also good but sail will need washed afterwards. A good idea is to place a towl or other absorbant material behind the greasy area and dab the solvent on from the front. This carries the grease through the material and into the absorbant material.

Plan "B" is to take the sail to your local sail maker / sail loft and have them launder it.

Have you contacted the sail manufacturer - they should be able to advise on a suitable solvent to use or at lease what not to use.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jerryat]

Hi jmp!

I doubt if soap and water will do the trick. I have successfully removed oil/grease from sailcoth by using Swarfega or other similar hand-washing degreaser. Put it on neat and work it well into the stain. Wash off with lots of water and repeat as necessary. I suspect you will still be left with a 'shadow' but it should remove the worst. An alternative is to use a proprietary engine degreasing agent e.g. Gunk, which is used in a similar way to Swarfega. Again, wash off well and be prepared for a slight stain/shadow to remain.

These work fairly well for ordinary oil/grease stains, but I've never tried it on graphite grease, so hope it solves your problem.

Good sailing!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[aitchw]

The towel pad is best placed against the side of the sail the grease is on and the solvent applied from the other side. This way you are not flushing the gease/graphite through the cloth but releasing it from the back and straight into the pad.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[paulrossall]

Did you look at the sailnet.com site when searching the internet for a solution? The following article might be of use. Just click on the blue print below.
http://www.sailnet.com/collections/gearandmaintenance/index.cfm?articleID=barron0010&coll_cat=Sails&Coll_name=Sails and Sail Handling
Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".