rusty sails

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Allan Gibson

Hi, I have recently purchased a Mason 38. The main is structurally almost new, but was clearly stored for a long period with rusty anchors and chain. Is there any way to remove all the rust stains and if not, can the sails be dyed a darker color? Thanks for any advice here. Cheers
 
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MArk

Allan, See the "Cleaning Sails" section on related link. I've also heard of some success with Oxy Clean (Oxi Clean) or some such cleaners. I would be very careful with these cleaners because they (like most detergents) are alkaline. No matter what you use to clean the sail, be sure to THOROUGHLY rinse the sail with clean FRESH water when done. Happy (fusion powered) sails *_/), MArk
 
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Tim Stodola at Doyle Sails

Hello Allen, welcome to the Doyle Sails Forum. Rust is a stubborn stain, and there are some chemicals available to you such as CLR (Calcium Lime and Rust remover). You might give this a try. There are some stronger solutions that are available only for commercial use and not sold retail. Many sailmakers including us use a solution called Erusticator. If the CLR does not work adequately, consult your sailmaker about his sail cleaning process.
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Oxi Clean?

I thought Oxi Clean was peroxide and soda ash? Some things to try: "There are other stains that you may need to deal with such as Rust. You can try a product called CLR (stands for Calcium Lime Rust). This stuff works great around the faucets and in the shower at home. I think it will be fine for a rust spot on a sail. Also a solution of 2% hydrochloric acid and warm water. Oxalic Acid for 15-30 minutes (use mfg recommendations for mixing). Be sure to use a mild detergent and warm water to clean the spot after using ANY type of chemical solvents. These products may remove the stains, but they can also soften the various coatings on sailcloth." Whatever you try, go easy. It is better to have a rusty good sail, than a wholly bad sail.
 
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Frank Ladd

Iron out

Iron out works on rust stains in cloth too. You can buy it at Lowes and most hardware stores.
 
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