rust stains

[jerry]

I refinished the exterior teak on my O'Day 28 and finished with Cetol Lite. The wood looks great, HOWEVER, I stripped the wood with steel wool. It rained the night after I used the steel wool, and everyplace that the steel fibers collected left horrendous rust stains. Anyone know of any cleaner that is effective in removing rust stains from gelcoat?

 

[MArk]

Oxalic Acid

Check the thread below from last week for some good suggestions...

 

[Trevor]

Ditto that; some application techniques

Hi Jerry -MArk has a good suggestion; try oxalic acid. It's the active ingredient in Davis' FSR (Fiberglass Stain Remover) product, a blue gel you wipe on with a rag, wait, and hose off. Another way to get the stains off (and also that yellowing that appears on the bow at the waterline in salt water) is to mix powdered oxalic acid with water in a spray bottle. Spray on, hose off, that's it!Good stuff - best of luck!Trevor

 

[Mike]

rust remover

Jerry:I had some heavy rust stains in the cockpit mini-lazaret on my O'day 28. A previous owner had stored his air horn in there and the bottom of the can left heavy rust rings.I applied a laundry product called 'whink' or 'wink'. I'm not sure of the spelling. It's available in the laundry products aisle of any supermarket.It's a watery liquid so you would want to apply it sparingly directly on the stain(s),allow it to sit a minute or so, brush with a stiff brush and rinse generously with clear water, repeat as necessary until the stains are gone. Use rubber gloves because this stuff is mighty aggresive. I'd try to keep it off of the teak or any fabric, but it seems to not affect gel coat adversely.Good luck,Mike