Can I protect this old laundry tub?

[ironhat]

I have one of those cheap, resin laundry tubs. Over the past 8 years of its life it has accumulated a **lot** of stains. During my weekend gunsmith project I began to scrub the sink with a piece of 0000 steel wool that I was using. It looks like it's possible to resurrect this old sink. The question is what can be used to seal the resin against this happening so quickly?

TIA!

[Uncle Cracker]

Those aren't stains, they're badges of honor... You gotta expect a tub like that to get 'em. I don't think any sealant would offer much protection. Just plan to take the 0000 to it again from time to time. Unless you have a habit of gathering house guests around it to sing "kumbaya", then that should be plenty.

[cabinetman]

I have one of those cheap, resin laundry tubs. Over the past 8 years of its life it has accumulated a **lot** of stains. During my weekend gunsmith project I began to scrub the sink with a piece of 0000 steel wool that I was using. It looks like it's possible to resurrect this old sink. The question is what can be used to seal the resin against this happening so quickly?

TIA!

It might be a cheap sink, but it's your cheap sink. I wouldn't be using 0000 steel wool. Any particles of the strands breaking off may cause rusting. If it's that bad that it needs abrading, I would use a superfine synthetic "wool", like Scotch-Brite®, or a variety of other synthetic pads.

If what you have is stains, a rubbing compound may clear them without changing the surface of the sink. You also might try just using an automotive paste wax, which would provide some semblence of protection.

If the sink is real bad, you could uninstall the fixture, and prepare it for a coating, like an epoxy based finish.
.

[ironhat]

Those aren't stains, they're badges of honor... You gotta expect a tub like that to get 'em.
I'm going to have my wife speak with you about that. She's sure that they come from me and I'm saying that it's a 50/50 split.
I don't think any sealant would offer much protection. Just plan to take the 0000 to it again from time to time. Nuts! Unless you have a habit of gathering house guests around it to sing "kumbaya", then that should be plenty. So, you got your invitation, already!

OK, C.man, that's just crazy talk - uninstalling... - LOL! I'll stick to the Scotchbrite suggestion. It was so difficult using the steel wool that I doubt that the rubbing compound would work. But, I haven't finished and it's worth a try, at least.

Thanks!

[Uncle Cracker]

Actually, I would use a 0000 non-steel (synthetic or brass) wool, as C-Man is right about the residual rust that you could get from embedded steel. It's possible that doing it a little more often than 9-year intervals might make the job a bit easier...

[Hellrazor]

Oh boy.. he is moving to the clean side. Next he will tell us about feather dusting the shop...

[ironhat]

Oh boy.. he is moving to the clean side. Next he will tell us about feather dusting the shop...

Now, hoooold on there. The tub is in the wife's domain but it was me who bothched it up, for the most part. A feather duster in the shop, though... that's just crazy talk!