Isn't the stuffing box made of either brass or bronze? I'm no expert on galvanic corrosion, if it looks like it's copper, doesn't that mean that the alloy (zinc?) completely gone? Thanks for input.
My old stuffing box is shining like a new penny. I think that's a bad thing.
- Thread starter IH82BL8
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There should be no brass fittings anywhere on your boat that contact other metals or seawater, period. Use only silicon bronze or 316 SS. Make sure you have zincs everywhere in you cooling system where dissimilar metals are connected by water, especially seawater. Also, all thruhulls/seacocks and the stuffing box should be tied together and grounded.
It was soaked in sulfuric acid.
It's not new, I removed it and cleaned it up.
In case anyone is curious, the boat is out of the water
.
It's not new, I removed it and cleaned it up.
In case anyone is curious, the boat is out of the water
.The stuffing box is bronze. Why did you soak it in acid? Within a few days after it is installed it will tarnish again. In salt water it will develop a green patina.It was soaked in sulfuric acid.
It's not new, I removed it and cleaned it up.
In case anyone is curious, the boat is out of the water
Try vinegar next time. You won't need a respirator. It'll do the same thing, a bit safer to boot. Put your disassembled heat exchanger tube assembly in there too and all your bronze parts.
Hey Dave, you should clean yours off too. You're in fresh water, it'll stay nice and shiny!
Hey Dave, you should clean yours off too. You're in fresh water, it'll stay nice and shiny!
Tried vinegar, didn't make any difference. I cleaned it because, when I take something apart, I clean it before I put it back together. It was well tarnished and patina'ed. It looked like a giant booger. I'm planning to sell the boat in the Spring and I didn't want the visible condition of the stuffing box to give a prospective buyer cause for concern.
I, personally, think the green patina is the correct look for all things bronze and copper. It's a natural protective coating. People even have developed "pickling solutions" to precipitate the patina without having to wait for father time to do his work.
Take a look at bronze statues, and other bronze works of art.
Take a look at bronze statues, and other bronze works of art.