Originally Posted by
dweenk
This may sound stupid, but I have never used white vinegar as a rust removal soak. I have used it with aluminum foil to remove rust from chromed steel rims and other bits; but I have not tried it as a soak until today.
I am using a 5% vinegar solution from the grocery store (Food Lion). My initial target is the lower race of the headset while also getting at some surface rust around the painted head tube lugs. I know that other BF members have used vinegar for this purpose.
Any tips? Any cautions? Does it work on painted surfaces? Should I avoid aluminum parts?
Vinegar won't work anywhere near as well as oxalic acid, which you can get as deck cleaner or wood bleach in hardware stores, about $20 an almost-gallon jug. It's safe - don't drink the stuff - and won't harm the unrusted steel, or paint(usually).
And no, don't have any aluminium attached and in the bath - for either solution.