Very bad rust on gelcoat through grinding, best removal.

Cheetahcat

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G'Morning all, Had some ports operatives working and grinding next to my boat and left me with this problem, I am trying Onyx rust remover is there anything else new on market that is better. regards.
 

Refueler

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Once its there - its a hard job removing it ...

I would have approached the other boats owner and discussed the matter .... because its a well known problem and it would be reasonable to expect their workers to take measures to prevent it.
 

Pye_End

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G'Morning all, Had some ports operatives working and grinding next to my boat and left me with this problem, I am trying Onyx rust remover is there anything else new on market that is better. regards.
Oxalic acid is good at removing rust marks. Certainly worth a try but success will depend on severity.

You can buy it as crystals, or part of an existing cleaner (eg. teak cleaner, or some GRP cleaners such as Y10).
 

rogerthebodger

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Oxalic acid will remove the resulting rust marks but if the grinding has caused pitting of the gelcoat the only way is to sand with wet and dry the polish if the is enough gelcoat thickness
 

PabloPicasso

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Yes, oxalic acid. Mix it up with some hot water and wallpaper paste to get it to gel. Then it'll stick to the verical surfaces of your hull.

Leave for as long asy you need and wash off thourghly. Perhaps 20 minutes or so. Don't let it dry completly or it'll be a devil of a job to get it off. Repeat as needed.

Wear gloves and eye protection. Don't find out the hard way why this is necessary


Good luck, & do let us know how you get on.
 
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pandos

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Instead of mixing paste with oxalic acid, use cheap washing up liquid. It works a bit like y10.

When I knew even less than I know now I destroyed my friends deck cutting his anchor chain for him, ( he was holding it) a few weeks later the deck was covered in rust spots. Two applications of y10 and all was well.

Even if you feel the need to sand it don't do so until all of the metal has been removed by the acid process or you are bound to rub some of it deeper.
 

WoodyP

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I had this problem at my marina where fishing boats were being refurbished. The owner put one of his chaps on it at no cost to me. I think it'll be unlikely that the spread of swarf will need grinding out.
 
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