Bicycle Mechanics - Remving rust, sreel frame (pics)

Hey all,

I re-do bike for my grandpa who then donates them to a crisis pregnancy store in his area. He sent me this bike a few days ago (99 Diamondback Viper BMX) and it had quite a bit of surface rust, but not too much :)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper3.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper2.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper1.jpg

The bike is steel by the way. Most of the rust came right off w/ Simple Green and 0000 steel wool. But some spots and those hard to reach spots just won't come off.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper6.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper5.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/mattpirotto/Viper4.jpg

I need suggestions on how to get it off. Wire brushes (steel) for a drill scratch it. I bought an attachment for the Dremel that scratched it. I thought I would pick up some brass wool or a brass brush for the drill, but Home Depot doesnt have any...

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Matt

I'm not a bike mechanic, but when I worked in a body shop we used 300 emery cloth to get into hard to reach spots. We finished the job with 360 cloth lubricated with water.

Cool!! Neverdull also works really good on chrome.
This bike had heasvy rust so I took it down to bare metal with a 4" grinder and a wire wheel. Tunred out pretty good after repaint.Neverdull reall should solve your issues on that bike though. It tends to disolve rust. You can get it al Walmart or any auto parts store

Cool!! Neverdull also works really good on chrome.
This bike had heasvy rust so I took it down to bare metal with a 4" grinder and a wire wheel. Tunred out pretty good after repaint.Neverdull reall should solve your issues on that bike though. It tends to disolve rust. You can get it al Walmart or any auto parts store

Thanks for the tip! I'll pick some up next time i'm in town.

Other suggestions still welcome. And does anyone know where to get brass wool or a brass wire brush (for a drill)?

does that even exist... the steal wool thing...

i kno they have wire brushes for drills.. brass and steal ones.. however i dont think they have steal wool.. would sand paper do? i doubt it ?

does that even exist... the steal wool thing...

i kno they have wire brushes for drills.. brass and steal ones.. however i dont think they have steal wool.. would sand paper do? i doubt it ?

ummh yeah, it exists... Go check out your local hardware store. :)

http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/images%20steel%20wool/SW%208pad--pack-a_thumb.gif

ummh yeah, it exists... Go check out your local hardware store. :)

http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/images%20steel%20wool/SW%208pad--pack-a_thumb.gif


roflcopter


way to be a smart @$$ ... he said steal wool drill attachments.. and i said i dont think they exist.


might want to read the entire thread next time :rolleyes:

roflcopter


way to be a smart @$$ ... he said steal wool drill attachments.. and i said i dont think they exist.


might want to read the entire thread next time :rolleyes:

Are you kidding me? How am I being the smart a**? In your post, you talked about wire brushes for drills, but never said "steel wool drill attachment." You said "does that even exist... the steal wool thing..." I thought you were talking about regular steel wool, maybe you should have said "does that even exist... the steal wool drill attachment"
Without you quoting ronin, I thought you were speaking to me, not to him. So shut the hell up.

Go play with your rolfcopter in the corner.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Matt

I have had luck removing rust from chrome using a Golf brush. These are made to clean the heads of golf clubs which some are chromed. They are a brass type bristle and doesn't seem to do much harm. You can pick these up in any store that has a sporting goods section. For really tight areas you can try a bottle brush with some polish on the area. Bottle brushes come in assorted dimensions but are a nylon bristle so they won't remove rust on their own.

I have had luck removing rust from chrome using a Golf brush. These are made to clean the heads of golf clubs which some are chromed. They are a brass type bristle and doesn't seem to do much harm. You can pick these up in any store that has a sporting goods section. For really tight areas you can try a bottle brush with some polish on the area. Bottle brushes come in assorted dimensions but are a nylon bristle so they won't remove rust on their own.

Thanks for the suggestion, i'll give that a shot.

I would break down and have it bead blasted. I repainted my frame several times only to have persistent rust spots come back that I thought I had gotten. After the bead blast and repaint, no rust after a year.

I would break down and have it bead blasted. I repainted my frame several times only to have persistent rust spots come back that I thought I had gotten. After the bead blast and repaint, no rust after a year.

I would but it's not worth it. I'm just rebuilding this bike, then it's going to be donated to a crisis pregnancy store w/ a price tag of like $29.

everyone has it.........WD-40 and steel wool

everyone has it.........WD-40 and steel wool

That's what I've been using. But I need something more powerful to get in the small spots where I can't really go back and forth w/ the steel wool.

Try rubbing with a piece of crumpled up aluminum foil. Works great on that sort of rust, doesn't scratch. Some people add a little water or a little WD-40. I find just using plain foil works fine.

when steel wool doesn't work, use more steel wool. Rub again and again. And a little secret between us, please do not tell anyone: Use car polish at the same time you rub with the steel wool and after that apply car wax let it dry and rub with a soft rag and you will se what is shinning ;)

when steel wool doesn't work, use more steel wool. Rub again and again. And a little secret between us, please do not tell anyone: Use car polish at the same time you rub with the steel wool and after that apply car wax let it dry and rub with a soft rag and you will se what is shinning ;)

Aha, now I know the secret too!

But in exchange, here's my secret: a soap pad, like Brillo or S.O.S., which when dipped in water works great for cleaning the rust from chrome plated parts, and leaves behind a little waxy coating to protect the surface.
If you have rusty steel wheels, turn the bike upside down and hold the soap pad against the wheel while you turn it. This will work a bit like a big buffing wheel, easily cleaning off the rust. The areas between the spokes still have to be scrubbed by hand, though.

Are you kidding me? How am I being the smart a**? In your post, you talked about wire brushes for drills, but never said "steel wool drill attachment." You said "does that even exist... the steal wool thing..." I thought you were talking about regular steel wool, maybe you should have said "does that even exist... the steal wool drill attachment"
Without you quoting ronin, I thought you were speaking to me, not to him. So shut the hell up.

Go play with your rolfcopter in the corner.


yes ma'am

Nice suggestions about using steel wool with auto polish, then wax. BUT, be sure to wash the wax and/or polish off with HOT water and detergent before attempting to paint or the paint will bead (just like water) or craze.

I've tried most mechanical methods of rust removal with little success. The rust always came back, even if I got the surface visibly rust free. I would try either phosphoric acid or electrolysis.

Hey all,
I need suggestions on how to get it off. Wire brushes (steel) for a drill scratch it. I bought an attachment for the Dremel that scratched it. I thought I would pick up some brass wool or a brass brush for the drill, but Home Depot doesnt have any...

Any suggestions?


I've had luck using Naval Jelly, letting it sit awhile, it ususally comes off pretty easy after that.

-j