Remove Antifoul off Stainless prop

[benbaron]

Hi guys,

Is there an easy way of removing antifoul off a stainless prop? just bought a s/h prop and it looks like it has antifoul on - would like to get shut of it and make it nice and shiney again (we dont keep the boat in the water.....)

Cheers
Ben

[Matt13]

Hi guys,

Is there an easy way of removing antifoul off a stainless prop? just bought a s/h prop and it looks like it has antifoul on - would like to get shut of it and make it nice and shiney again (we dont keep the boat in the water.....)

Cheers
Ben

Hi Ben I have just had the exact same problem. I tried using nitromors but it barely made any difference but it may work if the prop is not too heavily anti fouled. I got a local company to do it in the end and the result is here http://www.sportsboat.co.uk/forum/index ... =viewtopic

I'm not sure where you are based but I can pm you their details. I keep meaning to ask them what they used on mine so I'll drop them an email and see if they will share their secret and let you know.

[benbaron]

That looks an excellent job Matt! mmm I was thinking nitromoors....maybe thinners will do the trick if that hasnt...not keen on the scrape method

[salamis]

I would be tempted to try a wire brush on an electric drill. But be sure to wear a mask, nasty stuff antifouling.

[Gazjen]

When I removed the antifoul from my old boat I used this stuff:

http://www.decoratingwarehouse.co.uk/bu ... system/815

Its a paint stripper but you cover it with a special sheet (I used cling film when I ran out) then leave it for a few hours and the paint/antifoul just falls off

[Capn Jack]

Wow, thats amazing stuff Gaz, just watched a youtube video.

Thats a big tub to buy for a prop but at £38 it's probably cheaper than taking it to a professional I guess. I've just Googled Paint Removal and found you can buy smaller tubs which would suit for around £12 ish, so that might work.

I find that Nitromors dries out very quickly and then loses it's effectiveness, it's ok on household paint though.

My other idea would be to try a small area with a blow torch, not too close to start with, to see if you could melt it off. I'm not sure about the consequences though, Antifoul as we know is toxic, so a mask would be essential.

I suspect the guys who did Matts prop probably dipped it, sand blasted it.

That stuff which Gaz mentioned looks to be the safest and best route.

[betty boop]

I wonder if taking it to a door dipper/stripper would work? 80 years of paint must be similar to a few of anti foul and I doubt the prop would warp and fall apart like my doors did

[salamis]

Trouble with dipping in the door stripping tanks will be the rubber bush in the prop spindle, I can only think it would rot and crack.

[Matt13]

I spoke to the chap yesterday they have a machine that does it and he said if you want it done you can send them the prop and they will do it at a cost of £20 per prop. They can also polish it up really well for additional cost.

[benbaron]

Cheers for all the info guys, Its only on where the name of the prop is recessed into it (mercury prop) so not really worth me sending it off for a dipping. I'll see is a bit of old fashioned elbow grease + the other options does the trick - otherwise live with it

[baasboat1]

May be worth trying some starbrite hull cleaner to see if it has an effect