Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

Cetol and the swim ladder

4/25/2018

0 Comments

 
This isn't rust, it's Cetol. 
Picture
Once again I had to battle my nemesis Cetol.  Heading to the boat in the marina tender you could see the orangey dried drips all over the metal swim ladder as we approached.   Because the ladder hangs upside-down when not in use, all the drips and blotches of of the finish stood out like a sore thumb. I looked the product up on the internet and it comes three colors: Cetol Marine, which has an attractive dark amber appearance on wood, Cetol Marine Light, which has a lighter amber appearance on wood, and Cetol Marine Natural Teak, which has a rich golden color that enhances the natural beauty and grain of wood.  I think what I'm removing must be the dark amber. The product had mixed reviews, the pro side outweighed the list of cons.  As in anything, I guess it depends on how well it's applied.  

For us, the Cetol was badly administered and probably slapped on over teak that had already begun to show mold and white areas where the varnish had lifted.  What I removed was thick, layers of varnish and Cetol, so the grain of the beautiful wood no longer showed.  The teak was actually so worn and tired looking that I thought at first it would have to be replaced and was truly amazed that it could be stripped down and come back from the grave so full of life.  So I removed the teak, heat gunned off the old finish, sanded, bleached and applied eight coats of Gloss Epiphane.  It was truly an amazing transformation.  The wood grain and patina under the new glossy finish was breathtaking.  Next I tackled the rack.

Unfortunately, the Cetol was spread all over the swim ladder metal as well.  They obviously brushed all the surrounding areas along with it, plus the drips that splattered all over the side rungs.  I tried a list of things to dissolve the finsh, lacquer thinner did nothing to penetrate the coating and whatever else was suggested I tried but it wouldn’t release its grip.  I even tried chipping it off but that was time consuming and because I was working with a round metal tube and a flat chisel, the two shapes only connected in a thin line so I had to be really careful not to scratch the metal.  A friend suggested paint remover andloaned me his can,  a smelly chemical that always bothered me when I used to strip furniture, but with a mask, rubber gloves and fine steel wool it did the trick.  It was a low odor product and if that's the case I would hate to think what the really smelly stuff could do, b=probably cause a buzz for a good ling time or headaches on top of headaches.  All I'm saying, before I started using it my hair was straight, now it's curly.....

The Cetol was coated in all the welded areas where the step rungs met the side rails but I got in the creases with strands of fine steel wool and used it like dental floss back and forth to clean out the grooves.  Working with steel wool is messy and the little fibers go everywhere and you can’t leave any behind on the metal or they will rust.  I learned my lesson the hard way using it on the boat to clean the rust off the exposed metal of the lifelines; tiny bits blew around the scuppers and on the gelcoat of the deck that left little rust marks after moisture got to them. More work for me.

After Cetol was removed off of the metal ladder, then I used a marine metal polish and buffed them to a shine to protect it from the salt water.   I always thought stainless steel didn’t rust but there must be something else in it because it forms in scratches and the bond where the metal is joined.  It seems to need constant polishing each year.    

Sorry I don’t have a picture of the finished job; it now sparkles like a diamond in the sun and satisfies the crow in me. And even better, when the tender takes us to our boat my chest puffs with pride.   That sure was a lot of work for a piece of equipment that we don’t even use.  I don’t swim all that well, doggy paddle is my speed, and we board along the starboard side with a neat step fender, but it’s all part of the overall look of the boat and one must keep up appearances.

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL