Bathroom Sink

I-ramble · 11-20-2009, 11:12 AM

We have a new 2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral. My wife has noticed what looks and smells like rust forming on the bathroom sink. I looked at the specs and it says, "Stainless Steel Bath Lavatory Bowl". Anyone have any ideas?

The Danes Are Coming · 11-20-2009, 01:59 PM

Hi I-ramble (I like your nick BTW

)

I the event that you get metal shavings (could come from drilling a hole in metal) or even welding sparks onto a stainless steel surface, you could get rusty spots to form if you don't remove the shavings.

Without having obtained any degrees in metal recognition, I am sure that you can get stainless steel in a variety of qualities. I have been a diver (SCUBA) for more than 20 years now, and I have countless dives under my belt. I have had the same diving knife since my first dive ever, and it is now so rusty that I can only just make out the inscription on the blade. Here it reads "STAINLESS STEEL".

wa8yxm · 11-20-2009, 02:56 PM

There are two ways rust gets on a sing bowl

1: Metal of bowel rusts.. Stainless should not rust but .. In fact it does.. You can use steel wool to remove it but it may mar the finish if it is polished instead of brushed

The other is in the water.. Any good cleaner will remove it.

Paul R. Haller · 11-20-2009, 03:25 PM

Stainless steel is made by mixing nickel with steel. The durability of stainless depends on the amount of nickel in the steel. The more nickel there is the more stainless it is. There are all kinds of stainless available but in an RV you are likely to get stainless with very little nickel in its composition. Solvents, salts, and even RV tank deoderizor will probably over time degrade the sink. Wash it with soap or try some lime away to remove the rust and rinse thourghly.
-Paul R. Haller-

Dr4Film · 11-20-2009, 04:03 PM

I would try CLR spray on cleaner available at your local store. It comes in a yellow type spray bottle. It is for cleaning Calcium, Lime, & Rust in the bathroom. Give it a try and let me know if it works. I use it to remove minor calcium buildup on my shower and sink polished brass components and it works GREAT.

Happy Holidays,

Richard.

Gordon66 · 11-20-2009, 04:41 PM

Use Stainless Steel Wool to clean the rust off. If you have used normal steel wool it can leave steel behind which will rust and leave the stain. I worked in a chemical plant for many years as maintenance supervisor/manager. All of our welds on SS pipe were brushed using stainless steel wire wheels to prevent carbon steel contamination and rusting.

I-ramble · 11-20-2009, 06:43 PM

Thanks for all the quick replies and good ideas. By the way, we are heading for Buckskin Mountain State Park in Arizona for the winter. Stop by if you are headed for Quartzsite.

Jim & Jeanette Scott

hardy1000 · 11-20-2009, 07:06 PM

CLR first

LewF · 11-20-2009, 07:34 PM

Jim,

If it is truly stainless steel it will not rust but there are many ways that it could have been contaminated with non-stainless steel during forming and in other ways as pointed out above and the non-stainless will rust. The good news is that if it is stainless then a mild acid solution will remove the contaminate and leave the stainless steel clean. This process is used in many cases to clean stainless components after machining or forming operations. In some cases very strong acid is used and it never harms the stainless but cleans and removes any non-stainless left from the forming process. So something as mild a vinegar might do the trick if you are trying to remove a non-stainless contaminant. Am not sure what makes up CLR but think it is acidic so that may work also.

Lew

Mandys Man · 11-22-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-ramble

Thanks for all the quick replies and good ideas. By the way, we are heading for Buckskin Mountain State Park in Arizona for the winter. Stop by if you are headed for Quartzsite.

Jim & Jeanette Scott

Do they have long term there?? Or are you WorkKamping?? The website states 14 day stay. Looks like a great place!!

I-ramble · 11-22-2009, 01:18 PM

We will be working as Volunteers from December thru March. I will be working on trail maintance and leading nature hikes. My wife will be working in the registration office and gift shop. It is a great place, kind of an oasis with a river setting, and miles of desert/mountain trails to hike. Jim