Bicycle Mechanics - How Bad is this Rust? Help on Removing it?

This is for my new bicycle frame, basically it was never painted so it was left as raw steel.

Rust developed over the bike, I figured there's some people in here that have dealt with this stuff and can help gauge the severity :thumb:

This rear part of the frame is probably the worst of the rust:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5934/broakland2.jpg

The rest of the bike has rust like this:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1911/broakland3.jpg


Any idea on how to remove the rust, without damaging the steel underneath it? I was going to go over it with a steel wool, but I don't want to give the bike a brushed finish... I just want it cleaned of rust to bare steel how it originally was

thanks

Hi Farkel. You best bet is an oxalic acid bath which you can read up on in the classic and vintage forum.

Also, after removing the rust, I recommend that you apply Framesaver inside your tubes to prevent them from rusting from the inside to the outside. Furthermore, get the bike clear coated. It will have the steel color, but your frame will be somewhat protected from rusting again.

Right on thanks for the help... my inital thought was to have it bead blasted (walnut shells) and supposedly that won't affect the metal underneath

now I can't decide to do the acid bath or the bead blasting

Well, honestly, it's up to you. Would you rather do it yourself or have a professional paid to do it? You'll need certain supplies for the acid bath, but it will also get rid of rust inside the frame.

But, there are many variables, including whether or not you can actually buy oxalic acid. :lol:

Search 'Oxalic Acid' in these forums. It will do the trick, and has been discussed a million times.

Search 'Oxalic Acid' in these forums. It will do the trick, and has been discussed a million times.

I already recommended that. :( :lol:

Bead blasting or the acid bath will both be effective as mentioned.

To answer your question about the severity of the rust, it looks plenty salvageable.

I'd recommend naval-jelly (phosphoric acid) over oxalic acid. It preferentially eats away rust much, much faster than bare steel. Oxalic acid on the other hand, doesn't care. It will remove the good steel surrounding the rust just as quickly. As well as the good steel underneath the rust.

I already recommended that. :( :lol:

I know. But people asking get confused unless they get dueling-suggestions. See what I mean? Now 'Royal Jelly' has been proposed - which works okay. But the 'oxalic-dip' is cheaper and more effective.

By the time this thread has run it's course, the OP will be convinced to stuff the frame into an Elephants' rectum and convert to Buddhism.

Oxalic Acid. Yes.

Don't know about the Buddhist part, but if you can get hold of an elephant I recommend stuffing it up his bum.

You might want to check with the person that will paint the frame. That's just minor surface rust and there may be a paint product will take care of it.

Happy birthday. (http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/product/108868/oxalic-acid2)

Hi Farkel, I haven't tried Oxalic Acid for rust removal before, but would agree that a chemical would be best. As an experienced metal worker though, I think you should stay away from anything abrasive such as sand blasting because it will remove metal in the already THIN metal of bicycle frames. I'm sure you don't want to have a new frame that is weakened before you ever get around to building it.

Steel wool is a good idea too. You will have to "scratch" the surface before applying primer anyway.

For future rust prevention, apply a good coating of thin oil, not WD-40, but something like motor oil thinned with a solvent so that it seeps into all nooks and crannies. This should give your frame adequate rust prevention until you decide what to do with it. Don't wait until next year though. :D Then when preparing the frame for paint, remove the oil with a solvent.

Steve

Naval jelly is about $3 at the hardware store. Worked well for my frame.

i assume you've learned your lesson and are going to paint it immediately after removing the rust. If you're going to send it out for painting, let the painter do this too. That'll prevent rust from re-forming before painting. Most painters are equiped to either bead blast or dip frames for rust removal, and most do either immediately before painting anyway. Also many painters have strong preferences about which method provides the best base condition for their paint work.

The painter might want extra for a frame in this condition, but the difference should be less than doing it twice.

Naval jelly does nothing for the rust inside the frame.

This is for my new bicycle frame, basically it was never painted so it was left as raw steel.

Rust developed over the bike, I figured there's some people in here that have dealt with this stuff and can help gauge the severity :thumb:

This rear part of the frame is probably the worst of the rust:





http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5934/broakland2.jpg

The rest of the bike has rust like this:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1911/broakland3.jpg


Any idea on how to remove the rust, without damaging the steel underneath it? I was going to go over it with a steel wool, but I don't want to give the bike a brushed finish... I just want it cleaned of rust to bare steel how it originally was





A great way to remove surface rust for a tempo. fix is some good penetrating oil (no teflon). I would use PB blaster. then get some 400 grit wet/dry, spray down te frame, and get to work. when you're finished give it a nice rubdown then, wearing gloves so as not to get oils from your skin on the bare surface, give the frame a nice coat of wax. make sure to cover everything. You should be good for a little while now.



Jeremy