Summary for polished bronze marine environment Discussion
polished bronze marine environment coatings are the main concern in this thread, where Christopher Love asks how to keep exterior bronze port lights and fairleads bright on a boat despite seawater, foot traffic, and line abrasion. He says he previously used a two-part DuPont coating that held up for a while and is looking for a durable urethane or similar product, even mentioning claims of ten-year protection. Charles Gresalfi later asks about quickly removing heavy oxidation from bronze before polishing and then asks which polyurethane to use afterward. The reply says this topic comes up often and points readers to other discussions for more detail. It adds that, besides polyurethane, powder coating is another option if the parts can be sent out, and that the right grades of lacquer may also work; specialists such as G.J. Nikolas can help with lacquer selection. The answer does not name a single guaranteed coating for this harsh marine use.
Q. Hello and thank you in advance for your suggestions. I’m in the process of refinishing my boat. The exterior Port lights (windows and frames) and fairleads (bronze guides for docking lines are of solid bronze. I’m going to sand and polish to a bright finish and need to coat with a urethane, or some other durable product that will protect the polished finish and keep all gleaming and not turning green. I once coated with a two part DuPont product (forget the name) and it lasted for a reasonable time. I’m aware that there are new products out there that will under these harsh conditions guarantee a ten year protection but as yet have not located the company or product.
Again this is an exterior project, often awash in sea water for days, stepped on and lines rubbing constantly. Any suggestions?
Christopher Love
architect – Miami, FL, USA
2004
Q. I have heavily oxidized bronze marine hardware. Is there a way to dip the hardware to quickly remove the oxidation before polishing? After the polishing, what polyurethane would you recommend to protect the finished product.
Charles Gresalfi
– Mount Vernon, New York
2005
A. This general topic comes up quite a bit. See topics
61,
9786, and
35539 for some answers. In addition to polyurethane, other possibilities include powder coating (you would have to send the parts out) and correct grades of lacquer (specialists like G.J. Nikolas [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] can advise on selection). Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
December , 2006