Cleaning Stained Dacron Sails?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11580
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 10:05pm
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Topic: Cleaning Stained Dacron Sails?
Posted By: The Moo
Subject: Cleaning Stained Dacron Sails?
Date Posted: 03 Aug 14 at 8:28am
| Any suggestions on how I might remove orange (rust I think) stains from an older Dacron sail? They have been there for sometime. |
Replies:
Posted By: rogerd
Date Posted: 03 Aug 14 at 11:15am
|
Tricky one.
This has come up on cvrda many times. A quick search has come up with this. http://www.cvrda.org/community/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=225&hilit=+cleaning Some hardware shops sell 'Stain Devils'. Different ones for different stains. They do a rust one, and seem to work. Might be worth trying on an old sail first as some things, especially bleaches will rot the material. Seems to be either Oxalic acid or stain devils, |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 8:09am
|
i'd try oxalic acid. this is poisonous so wear gloves! ------------- |
Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 11:10am
|
Oxalic acid is the thing: will also remove dark stains on your wooden decks if you have any. I get mine from these people in Southampton and they do supply in small quantities http://www.jpennyltd.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=158.
Not very poisonous but deserves to be handled and stored with a little care. Also if you on know anyone who keeps bees, you should be able to blag a small quantity from these as it is used to treat bees in December/January. ------------- Merlin Rocket 3609 |
Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 11:44am
I've done this a few times and I'm happy with it...do this at your own risk though. It ain't my fault if it buggers your sail up ;-) put the limescale remover on and work in with a toothbrush, leave for 15 mins, add a bit more limescale remover and work in again, leave for 15 mins or so.........and then rinse thoroughly with soapy water......rinse and rinse. I've done this on an old Dacron sail that's been made into a sailbag. Try it on something similar If the stuff dries on there it will stain the sail blue, OK for an ent I suppose. The active ingredient seems to be hydrochloric acid @ 7% conc. If you're worried about the blue staining then get some hydrochloric Brick and Mortar cleaner from the local builders merchant and dilute as necessary. According to Plastic chemical resistance charts Dacron, poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET has excellent resistance to hydrochloric acid. .....as I said, at your own risk. Plastic Chemical resistance chart: http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html |
Posted By: drifter
Date Posted: 06 Sep 14 at 7:03pm
|
Harpic dissolved your glasses I suppose.
Oxalic acid really isn't nice stuff. Be careful.Wear gloves. ------------- Stewart |
Posted By: sampeeter
Date Posted: 03 Feb 15 at 8:10am
| I've always been advised to NEVER use straight bleach on anything! Not getting a chemical burn is not a bad reason along with I haven't seen anything that can be cleaned with bleach that can't be cleaned without diluting it somewhat. |
Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 03 Feb 15 at 11:58am
|
Suggest bleach at any strength should be avoided as it does attack the structure of the Dacron. Oxalic acid is the way to go as it chemically converts the rust stains into something which can be washed away.
It is poisonous but you need to ingest quite a lot for it to have any effect. Rubber gloves and as bit of care are all that is needed. ------------- Merlin Rocket 3609 |