The problem with stainless steel wool is that the consumer has little
control over what it actually is. There are many grades of stainless
and some grades do rust (as I found out when some got into my non-skid
on my boat.) It not as bad as ordinary steel wool, but it was a
problem, particularly when I bought it specifically to avoid rust on
my boat(s). I suspect SS wool is not marine grade such as 316 and
304, the two most common types on boats...they have different
purposes, but I forget what the differences and uses are for each one.

I haven't had a problem with bronze wool on a boat, but I think I'll
stick to emery or scotch brite for my antenna...the 2nd next to do on
my list.

Jon W3JT


On Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:37:21 -0400, Michael Coslo
wrote:

Jim Lux wrote:
lagagnon wrote:
I am about to refurbish an old Hy-Gain TH3-Mk3 Thunderbird tri-band
yagi. This yagi has been used in a coastal environment and thus the
aluminum is slightly pitted and most of the connecting hardware needs
replacing.

I figure steel wool would work fine for the aluminum tubing,

Avoid steel wool. Inevitably, it will leave little iron/steel fibers
behind, which will rust/corrode/react with the aluminum.

Hi Jim,

I keep hearing about steel wool rusting in/corroding Aluminum, but does
anyone have actual evidence? I've been looking on the web, and although
apparently using steel wool on AL will cause warts, bad breath, and the
downfall of the free world, all I've found is admonitions not to use it.
Maybe I'll try an experiment - I have some old antenna tubing.

There's just something a little strange about this. For the steel
particles to corrode the AL, they would have to detach, (easy enough)
settle into pores in the Aluminum at sizes small enough to do that,
(hmmm, those are pretty tiny steel particles) or have some odd property
of sticking to the AL despite cleaning. Then I guess it's a race between
rust and galvanic corrosion?


Use synthetic scrubbies (3M ScotchBrite) instead.

Bronze or stainless steel wool might be a good material to use. Boaters
use it on aluminum.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -