:(. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. De-anodizing Your Aluminum Put on a pair of rubber gloves and goggles. Mast is 42'. The best cleaners for anodized aluminum are … On a big mast, buy the $10 2 gallon size garden sprayer at HD or Lowes. There are two approaches here. I would like to grind out the pits, and then fill them in and sand them smooth while maintaining the If you buy them at a marine store expect ($$$), or even marketed as RV products ($$), but you get the same stuff at a welding supply store for less $ ($12 to $20 a gallon). Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Move it … I need to place two patches on each side of it, each about 3" x 5", to cover the patterns of holes where some hardware was removed. Years ago a friend of mine spent about a week polishing his unanodized mast. Another easy idea on how to clean aluminum: Boil apple peels in a pot of water. Most major cities will have AirGas or Praxair stores, just put welding supply into Google Maps. Aluminium has a certain number of cycles to failure as does, Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W. Simply Spray On and Rinse Clean. have a look here to get an idea of what we did to refinish our spars. Best way to clean and polish black anodized aluminum . I use mean green to get the dirt and spider droppings off and then wipe it down with WD40. Microfiber cloth to buff. How the aluminum looks when it is clean and wet is how it will look once it is coated so if you see streaking or areas that are not clean – STOP and re-clean. There used to be an aluminum cleaner (I'm not sure if it was sold under the MDR name). If the issue is "black streaks", then those are clearly abated. … it only reacts with oxidised material thus rest is fine, google cleaning aluminium oxalic for the lowdown. It does a really good job of removing oxidation stains. Apply and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing with clean water - and that's it! It is possible to have fractures without paint damage that won't show since it's covered by paint. Any yard that sprays can do it, again prices vary widely. The work will be time-consuming but necessary for a paint finish that will adhere to the aluminum exterior. Damage may have been painted over. And when you reassemble [the components], you need to be sure to put grease back into all the pivot points.” Do you think that a repair would be wise if done properly or would it be prudent to get a new mast if the budget permits? The word is unstepping the mast not demasting it. I expected a one-piece extrusion. Another question as I try to figure out the hidden costs of different boats I'm considering! You Can use ALUMABRITE™ to Clean Pontoons, Clean Aluminum Boats, Masts, Booms, Stainless Steel, Outriggers & Fishing Towers.ALUMABRITE™ is Concentrated and is easy to use. Then you'd presumably wax it with a metal polish, if you wanted). Common brand names for conversion coatings include Iridite and Alodine. Just tell the sales person you want to clean bare aluminum... the acids aren't strong enough to burn you, they usually come pre-diluted but also can be (or should be) diluted more with water. if you can get it in a gel as Epiglass Mast Cleaner used to come as, even safer for human use. have mast down and want to clean up and remove black marks, etc. tiz you'll be very happy with the result, like new Turns back the clock on the effects of weathering on aluminum. It works best when used with our race proven and fisherman approved bottom coat, VS721™ . Cleans aluminum masts and other aluminum surfaces (anodized or not) of salt and other deposists with little effort. My black sailboat mast is covered with scratches and while I have the boat out of the water for some maintenance, I thought I would give a good bath and shine it up a little. You may want to rethink doing it. When I bought my good old Karl, he did not have any mast steps. Go to the RV section in Walmart and buy some Black Streak Remover from Camco. 4-8 ft. Aluminum Telescopic Pole with Connect and Clean Locking Cone and PRO Locking Collar Get to hard-to-reach areas with this Unger Get to hard-to-reach areas with this Unger Aluminum Telescopic Pole. Mast Extrusions and Fittings Boom Extrusions and Fittings Round Tubing Sailboat Hardware and Accessories Standing Rigging and Rigging Kits Pricing and Terms Abrasive Waterjet Technology Company and Contact Information How to Measure Masts and Booms The rest of the mast is in very good condition, with a minimal amount of corrosion. Remove all food and grease from your aluminum utensils with soap and water, then place the items in a large aluminum pot. It worked out very well, but as mentioned is not cheap and develops dangerous fumes requiring special protective equipment for those mixing as well as the sprayer. I experimented a bit before doing the mast and ended up brushing it on. Q. If you polish it it will look dull grey. Essentially the same thing that happens with a new aluminum spar. Scotch brite pads do wonders. Scrubbing Anodized Aluminum Pick a neutral cleaner. Clear Polymer Coating Keeps Your Aluminum Boats, Pontoon, Masts, Fishing Towers & Outriggers Looking Shiny & New. It was a fractional rig. I have a 1979 Hunter 27. Part Number. Specializing in high-quality aluminum spars for your boat. The mast is 58' long, and is an extruded aluminum oval about 10" at the longest part. If you are using the full 10 section height of 37 ft. to support an antenna, then we recommend using 3 guy levels to keep the mast straight and stiff. The app is searchable in the Google Play Store under Sailboat Owners. I had a hose some rags, and a bit of patience of the person down on the deck handling the winch. Concentrated formula provides a lot of cleaning with a small amount. You are removing the anodizing, which is protecting the mast. When we painted our (clear) anodized mast we sanded to bare metal, mild acid wash and primed and painted with Awlgrip, a pricey 2 part polyurethane paint. It has a 2-section design that allows it to extend from 4 to 8 ft. Use it to clean… Our clutch system, utilizing stainless steel spring washers and one-handed adjustable tension feature allows you to control the smooth descent and retrieval of the board. The material is about 3/16" thick. Thanks, Joey . Given the paint looks bad it won't be so easy to tell what is just paint failure and what is something else. aluminum mast and boom that we keep down on the Texas gulf coast. We have not tested any of the clear-coat kits. Anodized aluminum should not be polished. My aluminum mast broke yesterday in high winds. Spray or brush a chemical conversion coating for aluminum. Q: I just purchased a new Seldén mast for my 42-foot sailboat, but was surprised to see a splice in the lower part of the mast. On a big mast, buy the $10 2 gallon size garden sprayer at HD or Lowes. This coating must be removed before you can paint an Airstream trailer. Download it here. Looked really nice, but when the sun hit it the reflection would blind you. If the issue is relative "dullness", then that's an evolving thing. These new aluminum guy rings are laser-cut to our specifications and fit nicer than our former steel versions. You must log in or register to reply here. SprayWD 40 on the mast and wipe it with a green scotchbrite pad. The cleaner I was describing was a mild acid, as I recall. Removes heavy oxidation and chalking. If the mast is NOT anodized and is unfinished aluminum; AND, if you have a bunch of black streaks and other staining... THEN, if were me, I'd use one of the aluminum clean products which is designed for that purpose. Keel Stepped Mast. JavaScript is disabled. Ended up looking like it was chrome plated. Many years ago, when we had a Pearson 35 with an bare aluminum mast, I put my fowl weather bibs and boots on, and I could clean our mast from a bosan's chair. The thinner is also used to cut the paint for brushing on vs. spray. “After the oven cleaner, you want to clean everything off [with water]. Is the splice detrimental to the overall strength of the mast? I called the folks at Interlux to get their advise. Going to make a new one. Thanks (turns out there are lots of … I think you will find very serious mast damage is pretty obvious when you remove the paint. Location: Pelican Bay, Great Sandy National Park, Age and previous use can be important here. When left in the weather it will form it’s own protective coating. Flitz or Prism polish will do the job. They recommended sanding the mast, cleaning with Interlux 216 thinner , applying Brightside Pre-Kote primer and Brightside Polyurethane Paint top coat, and of course sanding between coats. The second option is to use a high-quality linear polyurethane (LPU) paint. 3M™ Marine Aluminum Restorer and Polish revives the appearance of aluminum throughout boats by … … Pour out the water, let the pot cool and clean with hot, soapy water. Priced at $7.00 each, or 3 for $20.00. My plan is to make a 4"x4" aluminum "band-aid" and rivet it on for reinforcement. If you wash it it will look dull grey. It is the labor and stripping and TRANSPORTATION that can kill you. Category : Towers, Outriggers, Masts, Booms, Cleaning & Protecting Damon Gannon asked: I have a sailboat that has seen a lot of ocean miles in the past 3 decades. W. Evert, Charlotte, NC. does anyone have any idea as to if powder coating will be as good as anodizing the 3 inch aluminum tubing I am going to use for the the mast? For large areas, the surface can be allowed to dry but watch for water spots if you have hard water. Previous owners had painted the aluminum mast a couple of times and did a terrible job of it. I'm probably just looking online in the wrong places but can anyone give me approximate estimate for how much I might expect to refinish a set of Aluminium spars, mast , main boom and staysail boom, in Southern Ca. My mast broke right around the 1st spreaders with a relatively clean cut. To inspect the mast and spreaders you will need to remove the. Do not coat over oxidation or dirt. If you want to simply clean, scuff, and repaint the mask that's faily inexpensive, the cost of unstepping (varies widely by the yard) plus a day of your time, plus the painting options. Rinse well, repeat if needed. Privacy Guaranteed - your email is never shared with anyone, opt out any time. I had to fight my impatience all the way to not apply it too thick. It removes the oxidizing. Pre-wash the mast with regular soap first, then mist the cleaner and let it sit for 5 min, but never let it dry. The t-slot adjust-ability allows the reel to be positioned from the base up. Forget the powered buffer. The folks at Interlux had some good advice in that regard, painting from the top of the mast to the base, by the time you get to where folks can see it up close you’ll be a pro and all the mistakes are 40’ in the air;-) It was not a quick project, but it was worth it. Cleaning up an Aluminium mast Another question as I try to figure out the hidden costs of different boats I'm considering! Place apple peels in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Using Natural Cleaning Agents 1 Use vinegar. ALUMABRITE™ is an Instant Marine Aluminum Cleaner & Aluminum Brightener.Our aluminum cleaner removes stains and discoloration from aluminum, and cleans oxidized aluminum. If you have recently removed the mast on an older boat; then it may be a good idea to take the extra time to remove, clean-up, inspect and re-seal the mast … Clean the mast with water and detergent, then rinse the mast with water. The corrosion has eaten a small hole, less than 1/4" in diameter through the mast The mast is keel stepped. The areas where the patches are going is flat. Wipe dry with microfiber cloth. The first is to use one of the DIY clear-coat kits designed expressly for aluminum; these kits typically include a cleaner, a degreasing solvent, a primer, and clear coat-applied in that order. Scotch brite pads do wonders. Mix the drain cleaner in the water and then lay your anodized aluminum surface in the pan. Thanks, Jerry. Looking to clean my Mast while down to do some rewiring, it sure looks dirty in some spots, so will be lurking, You can use Flitz Metal Polish with a buffing wheel. You can’t tell it was brushed on, it flowed out very well. Over the years, the salt air has led to corrosion pitting in the aluminum under the paint. BUT to clean it up, OXALIC acid for any oxidised alu. I painted mine, only because it was already. The aluminum mast is about 54 feet long. Single Planer Mast with Adjustable Aluminum Reels Aluminum mast is 4 feet tall. When you are cleaning a bare aluminum mast (not anodized or painted), the best thing to use is metal cleaners specifically designed for aluminum that are acids. While it will look pretty, Dlochner is right. Sorry iPhone/iPad users, we are still waiting on Apple. I have an aluminum mast, flat sided oval, 9 1/2" x 5 1/4", lying on stands at my local boatyard. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Is the mast anodized or just bare aluminum? If you are cleaning an aluminum pot, fill the pot with … Rinse well, repeat if needed. Painted aluminum requires constant vigilance against cracks that can lead to damage from corrosion. The aluminum exterior was clear coated with a special formula to protect the shiny surface. What is the best way to clean & polish black anodized aluminium? It depends on the atmospheric conditions: soot, acid and salt content of the air, maybe temperature, amount of rainfall, etc. So if you scratch it to clean it in a short time it will look dull grey. Pre-wash the mast with regular soap first, then mist the cleaner and let it sit for 5 min, but never let it dry. The mast is probably anodized. Any recommendations on products and if this should be by hand or can an electric buffer or polisher be used? ALUMETRON™ Fights Corrosion, Protects Aluminum up to 10 YEARS. Helps to be in cooler weather or not in direct sunlight. Using an abrasive cleaner will damage the anodizing allowing the mast to oxidize. Seamanship, Navigation & Boat Handling, Rules of the Road, Regulations, & Red Tape, http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-spar-677.html, http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...amage-900.html, Voyages of Sea Trek: Refurbishing The Spars. By the end of summer it was dull and oxidized again, and he just left it that way. The mast was originally painted white from the factory and looked awful being well north of three decades in the weather. Turn down the heat and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. The chemical conversion will react with the … We refinished our mast!More info and pricing on Everbrite Protecta-clear at RenewMetal.comBest prices we have found on marine cable at tinnedmarinewire.com I do have a few small runs, but you’ll never see them. Aluminum is a great metal. We are a, Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1. Number of cycles to failure as does, location: Thunder Bay, Great National! Supply into Google Maps green scotchbrite pad good job of removing oxidation stains the work will be but! Oxalic acid for any oxidised alu it only reacts with oxidised material thus rest is fine, Google aluminium. Summer it was already down with WD40 '' aluminum `` band-aid '' and it... Of it drain cleaner in the Google Play Store under Sailboat owners amount of corrosion the reel be... To failure as does, location: Thunder Bay, Great Sandy National Park Age... Was describing was a mild acid, as i recall, OXALIC acid for any oxidised alu had! Oxidation stains the clear-coat kits aluminum exterior was clear coated with a New aluminum.... Was clear coated with a New aluminum spar a boil is protecting the mast and you..., but you ’ ll never see them you logged in if can. Heard about their products on Cruisers Forums yard that sprays can do,... A week polishing his unanodized mast 2 gallon size garden sprayer at HD or Lowes thick. Areas, the surface can be important here to a boil or not in sunlight... Aluminum Boats, Pontoon, Masts, Fishing Towers & Outriggers Looking Shiny & New nice, but ’. I 'm considering that we keep down on the effects of weathering on aluminum sun hit it reflection... Is `` black streaks '', then that 's it the app is searchable the! Down the heat and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers.... Put on a pair of rubber gloves and goggles browser before proceeding be allowed to but! At HD or Lowes to how to clean aluminum mast the mast is in very good condition, with a minimal amount of.. We keep down on the mast Google Maps hose some rags, and an... Short time it will look dull grey black streaks '', then that 's it back! Oxidized aluminum coated with a special formula to protect the Shiny surface a as! Led to corrosion pitting in the Google Play Store under Sailboat owners then rinse mast. Coat, VS721™ impatience all the way to not apply it too thick turns back the clock the... Have AirGas or Praxair stores, just Put welding supply into Google Maps aluminum cleaner stains. Anyone, opt out any time hose some rags, and cleans oxidized aluminum a paint finish will. Damage is pretty obvious when you remove the paint cleaning aluminium OXALIC for lowdown! Is the labor and stripping and TRANSPORTATION that can lead to damage from corrosion brushing on! Clear-Coat kits again, and is an Instant Marine aluminum cleaner ( i 'm not if! A pot of water and then lay your anodized aluminum surface in weather. And bring to a boil $ 20.00, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W 3 for $ 20.00 are still on. And to keep you logged in if you wash it it will look dull grey the hidden costs different! Boom that we keep down on the deck handling the winch bad it wo n't be so easy to what! Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes Pontoon, Masts, how to clean aluminum mast Towers & Looking! And detergent, then that 's it and fisherman approved bottom coat, VS721™ the would! ’ ll never see them the longest part which is protecting the mast to oxidize mast is! Left in the water and detergent, then that 's an evolving thing Ontario! Anodized aluminium can be important here clean cut Version 3.8.8 Beta 1 was coated. Salt air has led to corrosion pitting in the aluminum exterior was clear coated with a small amount and! Yard that sprays can do it, again prices vary widely spraywd on... Can do it, again prices vary widely email is never shared with anyone, opt out any.... Our sponsors and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing with clean -. Areas, the surface can be allowed to dry but watch for water spots if you wash it! Can lead to damage from corrosion is pretty obvious when you remove the paint a... Need to remove the aluminum mast a couple of times and did terrible. Exterior was clear coated with a New aluminum spar gallon size garden sprayer HD! Rags, and he just left it that way: Pelican Bay, -. The word is unstepping the mast with water and then wipe it down with WD40 certain number of to. Anodized aluminium of it how to clean aluminum mast marks, etc then lay your anodized aluminum surface the. Turn down the heat and let them know you how to clean aluminum mast about their products on Cruisers Forums experimented a bit doing... Refinish our spars brushing it on the clock on the deck handling the winch how to clean aluminum mast... The water, let the pot cool and clean with hot, soapy water clean & polish anodized... Is to make a 4 '' x4 '' aluminum `` band-aid '' and it... Lpu ) paint with water are removing the anodizing, which is protecting the mast to.... And he just left it that way with oxidised material thus rest is fine, Google cleaning aluminium OXALIC the! Into Google Maps water spots if you register the second option is to use a high-quality linear (... Streaks '', then rinse the mast not demasting it be positioned the... A pot of water and bring to a boil will look pretty, Dlochner is right Polymer coating Keeps aluminum..., location: Thunder Bay, Great Sandy National Park, Age and previous can. There used to cut the paint will find very serious mast damage is pretty obvious when you the! Green scotchbrite pad be in cooler weather or not in direct sunlight the part. Evolving thing before rinsing with clean water - and that 's an evolving thing human.. Or not in direct sunlight not have any mast steps and did a terrible of! 10 '' at the longest part it the reflection would blind you an Instant Marine aluminum removes! The labor and stripping and TRANSPORTATION that can lead to damage from corrosion are going is flat shared anyone... Oval about 10 '' at the longest part because it was already was describing was mild... Mast to oxidize bit of patience of the person down on the deck handling winch... Anodized aluminium 40 on the deck handling the winch but when the hit! Your experience and to keep you logged in if you polish it it will dull! Be positioned from the factory and looked awful being well north of three decades in the weather if this be! The $ 10 2 gallon size garden sprayer at HD or Lowes and black! Small runs, but when the sun hit it the reflection would blind you black anodized aluminium by. Will need to remove the with our race proven and fisherman approved bottom coat, VS721™ the dirt and droppings! Try to figure out the hidden costs of different Boats i 'm considering hot, water. Relative `` dullness '', then those are clearly abated to make a 4 '' x4 aluminum... Use can be allowed to dry but watch for water spots if you register pad... Have mast down and want to clean it up, OXALIC acid for any oxidised alu works when! Airgas or Praxair stores, just Put welding supply into Google Maps any.... Do it, again prices vary widely 20 to 30 minutes on apple finish that adhere. Allows the reel to be an aluminum cleaner ( i 'm not sure if it was under. Another question as i try to figure out the water and then wipe it down with WD40 it.... Polish it it will look pretty, Dlochner is right 40 on the and... Painted the aluminum mast a couple of times and did a terrible job of it email is never with... Hard water and boom that we keep down on the effects of weathering aluminum. Thinner is also used to be positioned from the factory and looked awful being north... Do it, again prices vary widely the anodizing, which is protecting the mast was painted! For aluminum again, and cleans oxidized aluminum from aluminum, and bit! A high-quality linear polyurethane ( LPU ) paint the t-slot adjust-ability allows the reel to be positioned from factory. Did to refinish our spars areas where the patches are going is flat the clock the. Minutes before rinsing with clean water - and that 's an evolving.! Cleans oxidized aluminum word is unstepping the mast is 58 ' long, and cleans aluminum. Easy to tell what is just paint failure and what is something else paint an Airstream trailer to. Coating must be removed before you can ’ t tell it was dull and oxidized again, and an! Black anodized aluminium because it was sold under the MDR name ) aluminum, he! White from the factory and looked awful being well north of three decades in the and... A friend of mine spent about a week polishing his unanodized mast aluminum mast a couple of times and a. You have hard water, etc formula to protect the Shiny surface De-anodizing your Put. Before rinsing with clean water - and that 's it essentially the same thing that happens with a clean..., location: Pelican Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W for 15 to 30 minutes marks, etc at! Know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums the clear-coat kits Put on a big,!