I bought a used steel handlebar that i like, it had some rust on it, i removed it with rust remover, but now there are spots where the bare steel is exposed. i guess the rust will eventually creep back since i do leave my bike locked outside. it there anyway to slow down or stop the rust from coming back?

Many coats of automotive wax?

Have you tried naval jelly? Also, I often just rub it with aluminum foil. It may dull the finish of what chrom remains but it gets the rust off. So depending on where and/or how much you care about the finish you may not want to go that route.

Dan

Live without Oxygen ? (rust is Iron Oxide, as you Should Know)

The easiest and best way is probably to keep it out of the weather, and just polish it frequently...few times per week...with some wax or some other polishing substance. Or, once you get it as clean as you want it maybe you could spray a coat of some clear varnish on it (although I don't think I'd do that).

Dan

My guess is that those bars are fairly inexpensive and you could get some rust removal/protectant treatments that would temporarily keep the rust away but eventually you will have spent the cost of a new set of bars for these chemicals. Only other way to keep the rust away is to paint, re-chrome or frequent polishing and waxing or spraying with something like Boeshield which will leave a dull finish and needs re-application from time to time. Leaving your bike outside all of the time is really speeds up the corrosion process and deterioration for everything on your bike as well. If you can find a way to store it inside your bike will last much longer.

To prevent rust you must keep oxygen and moisture (including water vapor) from the previously rusted surface, which would be very difficult in your circumstance. From what I can see you have also not removed all the rust. There are some products that will chemically convert the rust to a stable surface, but may turn the pitting black or grey. You then have to decide whether to leave it that way or paint with chrome paint. If you paint you need to further sand the surface, and if you don't paint the existing surface may further degrade.

The rust is occurring where the superficial chrome plating has broken down and flaked off. There is no treatment
for this. Phosphating the exposed iron will inhibit further rusting where it has occured but not affect the flaking
off of the plating. Naval jelly is one phosphating treatment. Iron phosphate is dark grey to black in color.
Waxing will slow the process but not last long. What you do depends on how you value your time. Best bet is
to keep looking for an aluminum replacement, over which you can agonize about the degree of polish present.

Remove ALL the existing rust and paint it.

Getting it re chrome plated is probably not in your budget.

The chrome plated parts on Classic Cars were actually plated with 3 metals on the steel.

Copper , Nickel. and then Chromium.. cheaper is just putting the chrome over the steel.




Buy some New, Aluminum, Anodized finish , handlebars..





./.