Rusty Chrome fork
10-11-07, 07:39 AM
#1
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Rusty Chrome fork
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question. I came across a older chrome fork that is very rusty is there a way to restore it to close to its past glory ? It is sturcturally sound, but I want to clean it up as best as possible.
Thanks,
Gregg
Thanks,
Gregg
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10-11-07, 08:04 AM
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You could send it to a specialist and have it recromed, or you could run a little fine wire wool over it of it isn't too bad and wipe t over reglarly with a lightly oiled rag. The last technique will cost nothing and if the rust is only light it will give a sort of acceptable look. I suppose you could abandon the chrome, rub it down well and have the whole fork repainted.
10-11-07, 08:17 AM
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I would not take steel wool to it except as a last resort. It will score the chrome and open up all kinds of places for corrosion to continue.
Try oxalic acid on it. I have had magic results with it. It can be found in a strong powder at some paint stores (it is used to bleach wood), or in less strong formula in some common cleaning products, BarKeeper's Friend, for example. Give it a good soak and then work it over with a mild scouring pad, and you might just solve it that way.
jim
Try oxalic acid on it. I have had magic results with it. It can be found in a strong powder at some paint stores (it is used to bleach wood), or in less strong formula in some common cleaning products, BarKeeper's Friend, for example. Give it a good soak and then work it over with a mild scouring pad, and you might just solve it that way.
jim
10-11-07, 10:04 AM
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Steel wool will not scratch chrome if you use reasonable care.
Use a light oil like WD-40 and the steel wool will remove the rust without harming the chrome.
Use a metal polish like semi-chrome to shine it up, degrease w/ alcohol and spray with clear coat for protection.
Use a light oil like WD-40 and the steel wool will remove the rust without harming the chrome.
Use a metal polish like semi-chrome to shine it up, degrease w/ alcohol and spray with clear coat for protection.
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Last edited by rmfnla; 10-12-07 at 12:09 PM.
10-11-07, 10:43 AM
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NO STEEL WOOL!!!
Come out of the dark ages, people! Oxalic Acid is the future!
Seriously, before I found oxalic acid I did the wd-40 steel wool thing and there is no comparison in the results. Oxalic acid simply eats the rust and leaves everything else shiny. Steel wool will rub the rust off but it also un-shiny the chrome a bit. Oxalic acid treated chrome looks great from up close, steel wool treated chrome looks great from a few feet away.
No comparison- oxalic acid. If you buy the wood bleach mix it to about 1/5 to 1/3 the strength recommended on the package. Soak the fork. Use a very light, non-scratching scotch pad (the white ones) after it's been in there a couple hours just to agitate things. Depending on the strength of the mix and the amount of rust it can take just a couple hours soaking to overnight. The results are so much better than scouring with wool.
Come out of the dark ages, people! Oxalic Acid is the future!
Seriously, before I found oxalic acid I did the wd-40 steel wool thing and there is no comparison in the results. Oxalic acid simply eats the rust and leaves everything else shiny. Steel wool will rub the rust off but it also un-shiny the chrome a bit. Oxalic acid treated chrome looks great from up close, steel wool treated chrome looks great from a few feet away.
No comparison- oxalic acid. If you buy the wood bleach mix it to about 1/5 to 1/3 the strength recommended on the package. Soak the fork. Use a very light, non-scratching scotch pad (the white ones) after it's been in there a couple hours just to agitate things. Depending on the strength of the mix and the amount of rust it can take just a couple hours soaking to overnight. The results are so much better than scouring with wool.
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10-11-07, 10:50 AM
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I restore bikes as a hobby, and my favorite polish/rust remover is NEVR DULL wadding polish. Its wadded up cotton that is milder than 0000 steel wool, and will shine anything that can be shined, including dull paint finishes. It is pre-soaked with a polishing compound. It's easy to use and easy to find. You should be able to find it in the wal-mart automotive dept. Its like 4 bucks for a can the size of two tuna cans stacked together. Never used the acid stuff, so i can't comment.
