I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?

--
W

W wrote:
I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?


Bar Keepers Friend

--
Steve W.

On Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28:03 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?

Run on down to Wally World and pick up a tube of MAAS.

It's good schtuffs, Maynard.

--
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life,
acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can
do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.
-- Euripides

Try Sheila Shine (I bought mine at Ace Hardware).. joel in rust
central

I tried the MAAS and that does get off the old rust. It does however leave
some kind of polish/residue behind on the steel. What used to be a very
dull stainless finish becomes a shiny finish. Do you know how to get off
the MAAS completely so we can return to the dull finish?

--
W

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28:03 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?

Run on down to Wally World and pick up a tube of MAAS.

It's good schtuffs, Maynard.

--
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life,
acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can
do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.
-- Euripides

What's that Lassie? You say that W fell down the old
rec.crafts.metalworking mine and will die if we don't mount a rescue
by Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28:03 -0700:

I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?

Scotchbright pad. Red or white(fine-veryfine).
--

Dan H.

dan wrote:
What's that Lassie? You say that W fell down the old
rec.crafts.metalworking mine and will die if we don't mount a rescue
by Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28:03 -0700:

I have a thin stainless steel that has smudges on it and I cannot get them
cleaned off. What is a good cleaner to use for stainless that would work
on rust and dirt between microscopic defects in the steel?

Scotchbright pad. Red or white(fine-veryfine).


The active ingredient in Barkeeper's Friend is Oxalic Acid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid

It works quite well in removing rust stains from stainless steel.

On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:42:25 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I tried the MAAS and that does get off the old rust. It does however leave
some kind of polish/residue behind on the steel. What used to be a very
dull stainless finish becomes a shiny finish. Do you know how to get off
the MAAS completely so we can return to the dull finish?

Wirebrush (see Tawm) or belt sandah, of course.

I dunno. Ask MAAS to suggest a cleaner.

--
The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life,
acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can
do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.
-- Euripides

On Jun 19, 9:52*pm, Larry Jaques
wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:42:25 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I tried the MAAS and that does get off the old rust. * It does however leave
some kind of polish/residue behind on the steel. * What used to be a very
dull stainless finish becomes a shiny finish. * * Do you know how to get off
the MAAS completely so we can return to the dull finish?

Usually, one passivates stainless (forming the oxide layer) with
an oxidizing acid. I always used dilute nitric acid.
Probably it's not a 'residue' that changed the appearance,
but the removal of an oxidized layer.

whit3rd wrote:
On Jun 19, 9:52 pm, Larry Jaques
wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:42:25 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I tried the MAAS and that does get off the old rust. It does however leave
some kind of polish/residue behind on the steel. What used to be a very
dull stainless finish becomes a shiny finish. Do you know how to get off
the MAAS completely so we can return to the dull finish?

Usually, one passivates stainless (forming the oxide layer) with
an oxidizing acid. I always used dilute nitric acid.
Probably it's not a 'residue' that changed the appearance,
but the removal of an oxidized layer.


The problem is that MAAS is a metal POLISH not a cleaner.
Bar Keepers Friend is just a stainless cleaner. It doesn't change the
appearance of the stainless but it does clean off the crud.

If you use it on cooking pots make SURE you rinse it very well.

--
Steve W.

"Steve W." wrote in message
...
whit3rd wrote:
On Jun 19, 9:52 pm, Larry Jaques
wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:42:25 -0700, the infamous "W"
scrawled the following:

I tried the MAAS and that does get off the old rust. It does however
leave
some kind of polish/residue behind on the steel. What used to be a
very
dull stainless finish becomes a shiny finish. Do you know how to
get off
the MAAS completely so we can return to the dull finish?

Usually, one passivates stainless (forming the oxide layer) with
an oxidizing acid. I always used dilute nitric acid.
Probably it's not a 'residue' that changed the appearance,
but the removal of an oxidized layer.


The problem is that MAAS is a metal POLISH not a cleaner.
Bar Keepers Friend is just a stainless cleaner. It doesn't change the
appearance of the stainless but it does clean off the crud.

That is a really important point and thanks for making it. It looks like
Bar Keepers Friend is actually an acid, so I guess that is re oxidizing the
surface of the metal?


If you use it on cooking pots make SURE you rinse it very well.

Can we just wipe it off with alcohol?

--
W