rust remove from swim ladder

Dec 28, 2015
1,837
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
Never use steel wool on a boat. Little bits of the steel will come off and embed themselves in whatever and then rust. Use bronze wool or a scotch bright pad. Maroon and white scotchbrites are less aggressive than green and blue.
True, I was under the impression that it was removed for some reason.it does work the best though.

check that. He did remove the ladder.....
 
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CarlN

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Jan 4, 2009
603
Ketch 55 Bristol, RI
Another fan of spotless stainless - but I've found it only works on stainless. For the plastic use something with oxalic acid (barkeepers friend is fine). Lett the oxalic acid sit for 15 minutes. May take several repeats. Do this after the spotless stainless.

When using spotless stainless some tips: Temperature of the room and metal must be 70F+ (it has no fumes so fine to use indoors). Dab it on with a rag or foam brush. No scrubbing needed. Keep it wet by dabbing more on for 20 minutes. Do not let it dry. Then wash off completely three times. You really have to blast it with fresh water and rub with a wet rag. If you don't get it all off, it will dry with an odd discoloration. If that happens, fix it by repeating the whole process again.
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,399
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
A buffing wheel and some stainless steel buffing compound of varying fineness will get most of the tiny scratches from the above cleaning methods. When buffing to a high shine or you get tired, then take the ladder to a business that will dip it in a chemical tank and passivate the metal. It will clean the metal allowing the metal to create its natural protective surface.

ASTM A967 passivation is citric acid, like Spotless Stainless.Nothing that special. And it won't stop the rust from coming back in salt water, only slow it just a little.
Citric 1: 4-10 w% Citric Acid, 140-160F, 4 Mins minimum
Citric 2: 4-10 w% Citric Acid, 120-140F, 10 Mins minimum
Citric 3: 4-10 w% Citric Acid, 70-120F, 20 Mins minimum
Citric 4: Other combinations of temperature time and concentration of citric acid with or without chemicals to enhance cleaning, accelerants or inhibitors capable of producing parts that pass the specified test requirements.
Citric 5: Other combinations of temperature time and concentration of citric acid with or without chemicals to enhance cleaning, accelerants or inhibitors capable of producing parts that pass the specified test requirements. Immersion bath to be controlled at pH of 1.8-2.2

Citric and Nitric are the ONLY acids in the ASTM standard, because they are more effective at preventing the return.

You can buy generic citric acid, making if as cheap as any acid. For best effect, with any acid, you will need a gelling agent.

Passivating Stainless
 
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