Question on cleaning and painting brass through hull fittings

[brico]

I am in the process of cleaning the filter and replacing rubber gaskets in the raw water through hull fitting and wanted to ask what is the easiest way of getting rid of that green stuff on the through hull fittings and would priming and paining them with Rust Oleum paint be advisable and lasting protection from the oxidation that causes that green stuff?

Physical removal (wire brushing) of the green stuff is impractical so need something that would clean it chemically before priming and painting.

Any good advice and suggestion are welcome.

[bluedart73]

My two cents is not to use very harsh chemicals. Start with white vinegar and a stiff plastic brush. i.e. toilet bowl brush to reach. Acid would clean them but it will eat into the good metal. Vinegar is a mild acid and may take time but you shouldn't end up with a compromised fitting. Leaving it as it is may be the best. the green is not destroying the fitting it is the residue of the deteriorated metal and may actually protect the remaining metal.

Of course new fittings are safer but that's a entire different issue for you to deal with at haul out.

if you do a replacement at haul out see if you can reduce number of fittings by making the main ones larger ( sealing other ones) and splitting off flow.

[bigbill]

i replaced a frozen 1.5 inch thru hull at last haul out, it was sitting on my work bench for about 6 months so i decided to soak it in vinegar and see what happens...it came back clean bronze, AND IT UN FROZE ITSELF. works great now.... i guess i have a spare now

[Play'N Hooky Too]

The oxidation layer that develops on the brass/bronze is actually better protection than any paint that you could put on it (ask any bronze statue that you see in the park if they haven't pulled them all down yet). Now if you are getting the powdery light green "bloom" on the metal, that might be an indication of a problem with your bonding system.

[jim rosenthal]

I have had good luck spraying clean bronze fittings wtih Corrosion-X- has to be renwed every now and again but they do stay much cleaner than they would with any other protectant I'e used.