Originally Posted by
Motoyuki
Everyone's before and after work seems amazing. I am a newbie and starting a restore on my first vintage bike. I was wondering how you guys get your bikes cleaned up so well. My project peugeot has no rust on it really, but the components are not nice and shiny like everyone else. Instead the components have a dull shade and little speckles here and there. How do you guys suggest cleaning them up? Is it all just wd-40, soap, hot water, and elbow grease? Thanks in advance for any tips.
Hi Motoyuki-
If you were dealing with rust I would refer you to the many threads on Oxalic Acid rust removal, but it sounds like you just have some oxidized alloy parts.
The first step is pretty much as you surmised, with a complete dis-assembly, and thorough cleaning with WD40, soap, water and elbow grease.
The second step is to read
Khatfull's treatise on polishing Aluminum.