Cleaning Corrosion on Strainers

[mawyatt]

I'm sure this has been answered before but I came up empty on my search. Sorry for taking the BW.

My strainers & seacocks are beginning to corrode (no Gary I don't have VD!). I use CRC 656 & corrosion inhibt but some spots are turning the dreaded copperoxide green. Any suggestions on the best way to clean this off?

 

[rwvw415]

I boat in fresh water and have the same problem. i recently sprayed oil on the growth. It has not been enough time to know if that slows it down.

 

[fwebster]

A mild acid solution with phosphoric or oxalic acid will do it.......or you could just rub catsup all over them.

 

[carterchapman]

Would CLR work?

 

[wingless]

Mine are now polished and they now hold up well for resisting corrosion. I spray them w/ motorcycle chain oil to protect them from salt water.

Bronze is a very nice metal. It polishes up similar to brass, but has a great luster.

Prior to polishing I've tried cooking in white vinegar and also rubbing CLR w/ a toothbrush. Those help remove the green, but not great results.

These are images of a few polished parts.

 

[mawyatt]

Wow nice work!!! Not sure what CLR is??

I have a product called Whink that is for removing stainless rust, it has a dilute Hydrofloric content (not hydrcholoric). Whould this be safe to use on bronze? BTW Whink works well on SS rust around the top side fixtures and railing, even worked on the SS exhaust ports. I found it at the local Publix Supermarket.

I want to clean up the green crud and then put on a good coat of the CRC corrosion inhibit spray...the amber color spray you use on all the electrical connections.

 

[Newbie]

I had the same green corrosion on my rudder posts when I bought my 340. I did kind of like Frank said but used Texas Pete hot sauce. Put it on thick, let sit 10 min and rinse. The results were pretty amazing, they looked new afterwards. I have since been spraying them with boeing T9 bioshield and it has not shown any signs of returning yet.
SB

 

[chollyjohn]

Appreciate all the recommended alternatives. Normally I have always used a soft brass wire brush with baking soda and then protect them with T-9 Corrosion Spray.

 

[fwebster]

Whink is a great "boat" product...I keep a bottle on my boat all the time. The only problem with it is that it apparently only comes in small drip bottles. I prefer diluted acid in spray bottles for big things like strainers and seacocks.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I guess I am a little confused about the discussion here. The poster started with "My strainers" so I was thinking the actual screens/wire/mesh was breaking down.

Why would one want to clean/polish a strainer? Am I missing something here? Just making sure I have not missed a maintenance step. I pull ours out regularly and flush/wash the crud out of them, but that's it.

 

[mawyatt]

I guess I am a little confused about the discussion here. The poster started with "My strainers" so I was thinking the actual screens/wire/mesh was breaking down.

Why would one want to clean/polish a strainer? Am I missing something here? Just making sure I have not missed a maintenance step. I pull ours out regularly and flush/wash the crud out of them, but that's it.

Sorry my bad!! I'm talking about the strainer exterior.

 

[Four Suns]

That's some serious bling for the engine room. Looks nice...

 

[mawyatt]

Whink is a great "boat" product...I keep a bottle on my boat all the time. The only problem with it is that it apparently only comes in small drip bottles. I prefer diluted acid in spray bottles for big things like strainers and seacocks.

Someone (probably you) told me about Whink and agree it works well. Someone else posted a warning that the hydrofloric acid (in Whink) can leach calcium from your skin/bones. Not sure how severe this is so I just try and not get any on my hands, if so wash off quickly. Heck I'm so old and beat up my body doesn't have any calcium left anyway!!

 

[mrsrobinson]

wingless, I assume the last time you hauled your boat you removed all of these, polished them and then reinstalled them, including the underwater exhaust?

 

[fwebster]

If you really needed to ask that, Greg, you need to go back to little boats with paddles!

 

[mrsrobinson]

It was kind of a leading question...why would one go thru all of this trouble just to have a shiny strainer?

 

[wingless]

Which Whink product is used to remove the green from bronze?

 

[fwebster]

Whink Laundry Rust Remover

 

[mawyatt]

Frank, do you think I would need to use baking soda (base) to neutralize the acid or just a good wet towel wipe down? I plan on spraying things down with CRC corrosion resist and don't want to "trap" the acid.