How to remove hard substance on stainless steel props

Muriatic acid. Just be careful with it. Won't get it at Home Depot, but a local hardware store might have. One near me has it - about $5 a gallon, but you have to ask for it special as it's not on the shelf. They keep it in the back room. There's also a product called Acid Magic. Similar stuff, just a tiny bit safer.

Or a scrub pad.
 
If there is a metallurgist out there you may want to comment on acid and SS. I think you can damage the grain boundaries in the SS with acid. If this happens you could weaken it.
I have cleaned my props by very fine emery paper. Took a long time but got all the hard stuff off. On my zodiac I was able to remove barnacles that grew on it by rubbing them with a golf ball.
 
I would use a drill with a wire brush or a grinding wheel with a brush.
 
Another less PC thing to do is ground your boat into a sandbar.
 
...or you can bring the props to a prop shop and have them reconditioned and polished. I just had mine done for $130 but that also included fixing a few dings and balancing. Prop looks brand new.
 
Acid is less of an issue than abrasives. In order to stay shiny while immersed in water a SS prop undergoes a process known as passivation. It is basically similar to anodizing aluminum, the SS is placed in an acid bath subjected to an electrical current.

Abrasives like emery cloth, sandpaper, wire wheels will all scratch the surface, and may imbed iron or mild steel particles in the SS. This can lead to rust staining. And if you boat in the ocean, a scratched surface will make it easier for barnacles to attach, and harder to clean later.

If you must use an abrasive use something bronze wool that won't react. A better choice is to use a SS cleaner and then that can be followed by using a cloth wheel and SS polishing abrasive. You can get the polishing materials for under $25 at Harbour Freight.

Henry


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I've used muriatic for this type of cleanup, and it works very well. I was able to find some at my local Ace Hardware. The over the counter stuff is something like 13 or 17% acid, and is pretty hefty; following the safety advice is a must. Outdoors, with plenty of ventilation, gloves, goggles, mask, etc. Once you get a whiff of it working, you realize how powerful it really is.

Brush it on with a cheap chip brush, and repeat until all the bubbling stops...this will only take a few minutes. Make sure to wash down the area thoroughly with the garden hose.
 
Henry Boyd said:
Lucky you, in my neighborhood two SS props at the prop shop are $545.00.

Henry


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Click to expand...

maybe i misunderstood the price! They really don't looked damaged. never touched bottom (knock on wood). I figured I'd have them tuned up since the boat was over 10 years old just in case they needed it.
 
Not sure what the build up is but since acid didn't work you could try oven cleaner being a caustic base it might work where acid didn't. I found this out tiring to to remove what was left over from zebra snail that the PO didn't take care of .It worth a shot.
 
I've used Mary Kate On and Off for stuff that looks similar. Does a great job. Also cleans off the brown at the water line.
 
Don't get concerned about acids - any of the ones mentioned here will do absolutely zippo to your stainless. Now, I'm not a lab technician so I can't speak from that standpoint. But I do have a few years of real life experience with this boating thing. :smt001 Try whatever you want -- toilet bowl cleaner, On/Off, Muriatic, whatever -- it's all good.
 
I have this all over my props. Will that affect the performance.
 
b_arrington said:
I've used Mary Kate On and Off for stuff that looks similar. Does a great job. Also cleans off the brown at the water line.
Click to expand...
Agreed! Absolutely the best for cleaning up those props. I tried everything and that stuff just eats it away. Very strong stuff. Wear gloves and eye protection. They will look like new when done. Good luck.
 
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