Stainless Steel Wire - Quality Control and Care
Jimmy Green Marine policy is to purchase only recognised top brand/manufacturer wire from accredited sources in the UK.
All Jimmy Green 1x19 and 7x19 stainless steel wire, including PVC-covered wire for Guardrails, is manufactured by KOS and is distributed to us in the UK by Seago Yachting and TMS.
KOS is generally acknowledged as the best stainless steel manufacturer in the world.
We have several sources for Compact Dyform 1x7 and 1x19 wire: Petersen Stainless, hamma™ Pro Strand, and KOSform
We are gradually switching from Petersen to the other two manufacturers - Team Jimmy Green will record this - see below:
Accountability
Every single reel of stainless steel wire purchased by Jimmy Green Marine is marked and recorded with the supplier, the date received and a batch number.
The Jimmy Green Rigging Team record the appropriate batch number on each customer order for wire rigging that they produce.
Therefore, each piece of wire is traceable to the manufacturer, and the accountability trail is clear.
Staining
Occasionally, we receive feedback from concerned customers regarding apparent staining on their new wire and rigging components.
Brown blemishing may occur on your newly fitted stainless steel.
However, in most cases, surface discolouration is due to contamination which will not adversely affect either the structural integrity or the longevity of your rigging.
This staining is commonly referred to as "Tea Staining".
Although unsightly and unwelcome, this staining due to surface contamination is not rust.
Pollutants can be carried by the wind, so may occur inland.
However, exposure is more severe in a marine environment due to sea salt being hygroscopic, resulting in the surface staying wet for longer, exacerbating the issue. High temperatures and humidity may also make the staining worse.
Stainless steel wire produces an impervious oxide layer, which prevents further oxidising and the development of stains.
Happily, in most cases, thorough cleaning of the offending areas will restore the oxide boundary layer and prevent further occurrences.
Cleaning
We recommend the Super Stainless Cleaner as a good option because it does not require any scrubbing or polishing and will get into all the cracks and crevices:
N.B. Staining can occur on or around the wire at the top of the lower shroud terminals. In that case, applying the cleaner further up the shrouds/stays is a good idea to prevent contamination from reoccurring due to gravitational migration.
This photo shows a modicum of staining on the main shrouds of a Moody 47, approximately nine months old, berthed in the Mediterranean. The second two photos show the results of a simple application of Super Stainless.
More Information
The British Stainless Steel Association provides more detailed, independent information on stainless steel staining: BSSA
Petersen Stainless have a webpage devoted to Care and Cleaning: Petersen Stainless Steel Care