Cleaning Raw Water Strainers

[Max Simmons]

Recent insurance survey required that the raw water intake hoses be replaced. Since they are now removed, I thought it's be a good opportunity to clean the Perko strainers. Is there a easy way to remove the green corrosion from the Bronze casting, or is it best to leave it as some say that it's the natural protection?

[gkesden]

I've always left it unless it was really, really bad, in which case I used a wire brush -- and fixed whatever was causing it to get so bad. That's normally been a sign it is more wet than it should be.

[Comodave]

If you clean it off it will just come back. Unless it is very thick and scaling I would leave it alone.

[Capt. Jon]

One of our yard trips I removed all the strainers and rebuilt them. I took the parts to a bead blaster and clean them down to shinny metal. I then washed them in soap and water and wiped them down with acetone. Once cleaned and wiped down I sprayed them with several coats of clear paint. Still looks good to this day.

[C lectric]

I too bead blasted mine, sprayed and within a few years the green was back. Not as bad.
Any imperfection in the coating will allow the green to restart.
I won't bother again since I no longer have access to a blaster.

Clean of any heavy stuff with a brass or better, SS brush. Then ensure there are no leaks from the sight glass or bowl , the cap or any hose attachments and the green will be a lot slower to develop.