cleaning off bull dust stains

Submitted: Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 22:10
ThreadID: 68934 Views:13693 Replies:10 FollowUps:6
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Hi There

I have a Kimberley Kamper which we took through QLD last year. The gavinised racking on top of the camper, canvas tap cover & stone deflector are now stained a reddy colour from bull dust. I have tried soapy water, tooth brushes etc to clean this stuff off with limited success.........any hints greatly appreciated as we are planning on selling and want it presented nicely!

Thanks
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Reply By: Member - Cookie & Di - Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 22:34

Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 22:34
Try Armorall on the Vinyl,worked for us.
AnswerID: 365438

Reply By: obee1212 - Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 22:41

Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 22:41
A mate of mine used to use a concoction of hydrochloric, sulphuric, and hydrofluric acid that was popular as a treatment for aluminium before welding. Hydrofluric is used in concentrated form to seperate diamonds from almost any other mineral in existence. It used to kill people who were careless enough to splash some on the skin. I dont think you can get the concoction anymore for above mentioned reasons unless you are a specialist. My mate suffered badly from the effect of the fumes alone that got into his hands. There is a gel that fixes it but it took a long time to convince the medicos to give it him.

I know this dont help much but some of you might be interested in the story anyway.

In my experience the dust weathers off with time but you could source out someone who is reselling mining vehicles that come from the pilbara or similar landscapes.

happy scrubbing

Owen

AnswerID: 365439

Reply By: oldfart1953 - Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 23:46

Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 23:46
Truck Wash & a gerni....works for me.............
Insanity doesnt run in my family.... it gallops!

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AnswerID: 365448

Reply By: Willem - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 04:21

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 04:21
Magic soap, water and a light scourer
AnswerID: 365454

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 08:55

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 08:55
It's a bugger alright - don't start me on the Pilbara - the hot dip galv is porous far as I can see - the dust gets in and goes rusty ! I scrubbed mine with a quality cream cleanser from the supermarket (JIF etc), using a pack of budget green scourers. Rust neutralising solutions are good too apparently, but I guess you have to guard against even minor spills elsewhere on the camper.
AnswerID: 365469

Reply By: _gmd_pps - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 09:44

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 09:44
It won't help you now but once you have it cleaned.
There is clear coat (2 component) which you put over
prop plate (checker plate) or any rough surface which is hard
to cut and polish. This includes roof racks, ladders etc.
once this is done the dirt will wash off with a hose.
Manufacturers just don't think someone would actually use
their product for what it was made. Otherwise they would
take care of it.

good luck
gmd
AnswerID: 365472

Reply By: DIO - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 09:50

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 09:50
NapiSan made into a thick creamy consistency and brushed on with a toothbrush or similar.
AnswerID: 365473

Reply By: Member - Josh J (NT) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:21

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 10:21
hI,

There is a cleaning solution called RIO, available from commercial cleaning suppliers, lived in Broome for 10 years and everyone including myself used to use it to remove the red pindan stains of there vehicles, is the ducks nuts.

Josh
AnswerID: 365478

Reply By: Warstar - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 18:01

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 18:01
These are some notes I took from a similar thread some months back.
(Yep, going to Kimberley and Pilbara again this winter!)

To remove Red Mud stains from Camper Trailers.
"alu-clean by cyndan is what to use. 40-1 mix with water & scrubing brush comes back like new"
"I have used a product called CT18 by Chemtech for years. Works on all types of surfaces and is does a great job. The longer that you leave it on, the better it works."
"I will try the CT18 by Chemtech mentioned above to see how good it is. I use Ranex (do a Google on it) Basically the red dust is iron oxide and the Ranex is Phosphoric Acid - I water it down and brush it on and hose off - cleans it like magic"
"As Trekkie says, it is iron oxide, which is in effect rust. So, it gets in the small pits in the surface and the discolouration will be there until you wash it all out. "


have fun!!!
AnswerID: 365534

Reply By: Kiwi100 - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 19:00

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 19:00
Davidjo,

Just wear it with pride mate - it's a good look. Shows you've been to all the places that the shiny ones are still dreaming about. LOL.

It's always amusing to read the off-road caravanners agonising about how to keep their chequerplate bright and shiny.

Michael
AnswerID: 365547

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 19:47

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 19:47
My sentiments exactly Michael

Motherhen
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Follow Up By: Kumunara (NT) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:48

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:48
Michael


Ditto

My camper trailer has red stains. If you don't want it dirty - don't use it.



Tjilpi
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:51

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:51
Like scratches and dents in 4WDs as well as off road campers and caravans - they wear them with pride.

Mh
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Follow Up By: Chev-Patrol 6.5 V8 D - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:11

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:11
Yep, I started reading this thread and was getting to the point where I was beginning to think that all EO contributors had gone soft and were of the "arm-chair" variety these days.....

Thank goodness sanity has prevailed with this latest reply and responses......

Think of it this way............. You spend a helluva lot of money getting that red dust all over everything; ENJOY it!!!!

The only dampener I would add (maybe) is that one earlier respondent mentioned something about the corrosive nature of the Pilbara's red dust.... That is something I hadn't previously considered; given all the iron-ore up in that neck of the woods, it is possible that the red dust from up there COULD eventually become a source of red cancer in the steel chassis etc..... but what the hell, that'll take years to come through.....

Roachie
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Follow Up By: Kumunara (NT) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:30

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:30
Roachie



One thing no one has discussed is that the red dust is addictive.

It gets in your blood and you keep wanting to get back in the Patrol and go back.



Tjilpi
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Follow Up By: Chev-Patrol 6.5 V8 D - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:47

Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:47
Too bloody right champ...... Even my (much) better half loves red dust!!!! She collects bags-full of the stuff whenever we go away; then tries to make an "outback" corner in the garden..... hahaha

Cheers mate

Roachie
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