rust on SS sink

[John J]

Hello to all: My love is a 2002 CD 22. I'm getting rust streaks on the top edges of the sink where it rests on the counter top. I've cleaned it off several times and applied a coat of wax but rust keeps showing up. Anyone experience a similar problem?

[Sea Wolf]

John J-

It should clean up and then stay bright if you use a regular stainless polish like those used on copper and stainless pots or specific ones intended for marine use.

Are you using steel wood? Using ordinary steel wool causes problems. The steel wool is not stainless, and rubbing a stainless object like the sink or railings or other hardware causes the non-stainless wool and the stainless fittings to weld together on the microscopic level, then break those welds, with some of the non-stainless steel left on the surface of the fitting(s). This steel then goes ahead and rusts. You get the same effect using a wire brush or wire brush wheel that's not stainless. (I learned this from a metallurgical engineer from Westinghouse's Marine Division.)

If you need to use a more aggressive abrasive than ordinary polish on a stainless fitting, use very fine wet/dry emery paper to start with, or go to a marine store where you can get stainless steel wool. Also, there are more aggressive polishing compounds available if you can find them. Joe.

[John J]

BTW only using a plastic Dobie with some Dawn detergent. I would not use a cleanser or abraisive. Thanks for the advice.

[Chris Bulovsky]

I have found the sink is SS and the hardware thats attaches the sink to the counter top is clearly not SS. Take a look underside of the sink you will see. If it were me Id take the sink out and put a clear bead of silicone on the inside edge.Then replace it. If the six bolts are to far gone to use then consider glueing it in place. The silicone should prevent it from rusting. The sink on my 98 had little bolts attached to it that rusted away. I'm thinking a bead of construction adhesive will do the trick.
Chris