Rust. Is there any way to get it off a sail
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Any oxalic acid based cleaner/cleanser will do this ... just soak, don't scrub
Zud
Barkeepers Friend
FSR
Oxalic acid crystals from the paint section of a hardware/paint store - "wood bleach"
Also "CLR" from hardware/food store
If the stain also is from 'brown' tannins (leaf/wood stains from dirty/muddy water) use TrisodiumPhosphate - TSP, first before extraction with oxalic. Don mix the two!!!, rinse well in between. Buy it in the same place.
Zud
Barkeepers Friend
FSR
Oxalic acid crystals from the paint section of a hardware/paint store - "wood bleach"
Also "CLR" from hardware/food store
If the stain also is from 'brown' tannins (leaf/wood stains from dirty/muddy water) use TrisodiumPhosphate - TSP, first before extraction with oxalic. Don mix the two!!!, rinse well in between. Buy it in the same place.
As RichH already suggested - oxalic acid. And yes home cleaning products with OA as an ingredient do work. My main sail picks up rust stains between outings while flaked over the boom and resting against the ends of the boom bale bolts. On outings where the wind is calm/light, I will go up onto my cabin top and dab the rust stains with the oxalic acid solution using a large artist's brush; taking care not to let run down onto anything else. Might take a few applications over an hour or so, but the stains are always gone by the time I've returned to berth. One of these days, after using Spotless Stainless on the bale bolts ends, I've got to coat them with a dab of clear lacquer or something to prevent more rust on the sail.
Yep! RichH is correct and one other source of oxalic acid is the RIT dye "rust remover" you can get at WalMart.
Next question, how long do I let the sails sit in the solution? I've had the sails soaking for 24 hrs. using Barkeepers friend and does'nt look like it's doing anything! Again, thanks for you help.
Oxalic acid should act 'almost instantaneously' if its rust or tannins.
Suggest you rinse out any oxalic in the sail with PLENTY of water, resoak again using detergent + scrubbing with a soft bristle brush, RINSE again, then reapply oxalic to remove any 'shadows'.
Suggest you rinse out any oxalic in the sail with PLENTY of water, resoak again using detergent + scrubbing with a soft bristle brush, RINSE again, then reapply oxalic to remove any 'shadows'.
Start with Simple Green/409/Fantastic, etc. then if that doesnt solve the problem then 'industrial strength' detergents ... Rarely does polyester 'fiber' take on a 'permanent' stain.
If this is a grease or oil stain, then caustic soaps/detergents will be needed.
DONT use 'petroleum based solvents' on polyester.
If this is a grease or oil stain, then caustic soaps/detergents will be needed.
DONT use 'petroleum based solvents' on polyester.
Guess one question to ask is about your "soaking"? My good result with an oxalic acid product is acheived when applying only to the rust stains. Don't know if some barkeepers mixed in say a full bathtub is enough concentration for the task. Also don't know if after applying, O2 in the open air is needed to complete the chemical reaction for rust remediation. If the sail is still submerged, this might not happen?
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