Stainless Rust Prevention

[spec2]

Does anyone have a recommendation on how to keep stainless stanchions from rusting? I've tried a number of products but end up in the same place a few weeks later. Has anyone ever tried SS-316? Thanks.

[billyruffn]

I’ve used Wichinox (comes in a tube) for cleaning and passivating the surface. When followed by a good metal polish (take your pick of brands), it seems to produce good results.

Wichinox is expensive (~$15 for a 150ml tube), but it works. It contains an acid (probably phosphoric) and so you need to wear rubber gloves and be careful where you put your hands while using it.

You put it on with a rag. I use a tooth brush to get it in the nooks and crannies of welds. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so and then wash it off with a sponge and fresh water. Dry the metal and apply a metal polish.

Done! (for 3-4 months at least).

[mitiempo]

This works

[sailingdog]

Spotless stainless, one of the advertisers on this site, makes a pretty good product. I've reviewed the product.

[RichH]

All the 'chemicals' mentioned in the above posts *remove* the rust blooms, doesnt stop or reduce the rust.

The 'best' way to prevent 300 series stainless from rusting, etc. is to POLISH it to a mirror-like finish. Thoroughly remove all excess weld 'bead'/irregularities by grinding and flat sanding so that it is precisely FLAT with the surrounding material. For the 'general surface' mirror-polishing by first sanding with successively finer and finer grit paper down to 400-600 grit, then power-buffing with the appropriate buffing compound until the surface looks like a MIRROR will prevent 99.9% of 'rusting'. If you have the $$$ after the previous steps, then send the piece out to be 'electro-polished'. All this is very time/labor and $$$ costly. 300 series Stainless 'rusts' when its surface is 'rough'; remove the roughness by mirror polishing and it wont 'rust'.

The chemical rust removal treatments are faster, easier, and less costly.
;-)

[sailingdog]

Actually, the Spotless Stainless product passivates the stainless steel and helps prevent corrosion from setting in by doing so.

Originally Posted by RichH

All the 'chemicals' mentioned in the above posts *remove* the rust blooms, doesnt stop or reduce the rust.

The 'best' way to prevent 300 series stainless from rusting, etc. is to POLISH it to a mirror-like finish. Thoroughly remove all excess weld 'bead'/irregularities by grinding and flat sanding so that it is precisely FLAT with the surrounding material. For the 'general surface' mirror-polishing by first sanding with successively finer and finer grit paper down to 400-600 grit, then power-buffing with the appropriate buffing compound until the surface looks like a MIRROR will prevent 99.9% of 'rusting'. If you have the $$$ after the previous steps, then send the piece out to be 'electro-polished'. All this is very time/labor and $$$ costly. 300 series Stainless 'rusts' when its surface is 'rough'; remove the roughness by mirror polishing and it wont 'rust'.

The chemical rust removal treatments are faster, easier, and less costly.
;-)

[jackdale]

SD - I am always learning from your posts. Now a new word - wow! I just have to figure out how I can use it 10 times today.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by jackdale

SD - I am always learning from your posts. Now a new word - wow! I just have to figure out how I can use it 10 times today.

If you can figure ten ways to use it today properly, I'll be really, really impressed.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If you can figure ten ways to use it today properly, I'll be really, really impressed.

There are some guys in the off-topic forum I would like to passivate.

That's once.

[RichH]

SD - not so!
You can passivate until the cows come home as until one removes the 'surface roughness and surface irregularities', etc. the 'rusting' will continually occur.

Until one gets down to specific surface finish levels ... typically 5-10 micro-inches (Ra), no passivation available on this planet will *prevent* 'rusting' of 300 series stainless. :-)