Originally Posted by
unworthy1
Try an oxalic acid solution soak, buy a tub of Savogran Wood Bleach and mix with warm water, submerge entire frame/fork in a plastic kiddie wading pool, turn and flip periodically. You're lucky to be in SoCal where you can buy the Savogran easily and find used wading pools all over the place...even in Winter!
+1 this is the best suggestion, and it's the fastest. I spend a lot of time in the "BMX Museum" and this is what they do. Some of their bikes look like they have been pulled out from a Lake and still turn around.
Another trick I've used is "Bar Keepers Friend" and power polished them. Then after put a layer of clear coat on it.
Here's a good example of a guy using the bath on his break parts.
Here's a blog for the "Bar Keepers Friend"
Bar keepers friend rust removal from bicycle forkVintage Crank
Rust Removal: CLR vs. Oxalic Acid - BMXmuseum.com Forums At the bottom a guy shows you step by step how to do an OA bath with surprising results.
But afterwards to keep your forks shiny you will need to clear coat them to cover the bare metal.