GL: A Cure For Rusting Stainless

[Albin43SDtr]

'Lo All,

I hesitate to repeat the following, as there are great dangers 
involved even if appropriate precautions are taken.

Passivating SS is a simple process. Wipe Nitric Acid on the metal 
with a small, clean rag, then wipe it off. It removes all free iron 
so that there is nothing left to rust. A poor grade of SS will never 
become fully passivated. Nitric acid is available on the internet and 
elsewhere. Again, ALL safety precautions must be taken. Know what you 
are doing BEFORE you try it!!!!!!!! Google "passivating SS" and you 
can learn more than you ever wanted to know. There are other 
commercially made concoctions, too, but most contain nitric acid as 
the active ingredient. Some concoctions are made of paste, and other 
things to simplify application.

Also, if you get it, use it, and save the remainder; be sure the 
container is always properly marked and its location is safe from 
children or other accidental exposure, such as by dropping or 
knocking it off of a shelf when looking for something else.

I used Nitric acid on all of the SS stanchions and weldments on my 
old sailboat. Most had a minor surface coat of rust. After 
passivating, there was never any more rust stains, except where an 
errant screw driver or something scratched the SS surface, exposing 
free iron. After wiping with the nitric acid, I immediately flushed 
the area with baking soda and water.

YMMV!      Use ALL safety precautions such as not breathing the 
fumes, not letting it touch your skin in any manner, wearing a safety 
face shield, etc., etc., etc. Nitric acid is extremely dangerous, so 
if you ever use it, handle it with extreme care.


Take care and be safe.

Wayne
M/V Celestial
Albin43 Sundeck