Cleaning a carbon fiber mast with a solvent?

[winddave]

Can you safely clean a carbon fiber mast with a solvent, such as acetone or rubbing alcohol?
Expert advice appreciated.

[DanWeiss]

Carbon masts are a combination of fibers and epoxy. Epoxy is pretty tough stuff but judicious application is the key. Don't soak a mast in a vat of acid and expect it to remain.

I've used acetone to clean masts for years. It can remove screened-on labels, so take care. Alcohol is a tame solvent in comparison but does a nice job with less toxicity for basic de-griming.

Give a good rinse and wipe dry. Then smile.

[mark]

As said above either acetone or alcohol is fine. Regarding the vat of acid comment, on several occasions I have actually placed the ends of a carbon fiber boom in a container of muratic acid to remove the glued in parts of a broken aluminum front end. The acid will completely dissolve the aluminum and not damage the tube. Also works for a hopelessly stuck aluminum mast base.