Hey all, I know it's always a good idea to treat the insides of steel bike frame tubes before the rust has a chance to begin, but when aquiring an older steel frame where you know little to nothing of its previous ownership, is it still a good idea to do the Frame Saver thing or would it just be a waste of time? I guess I'm really asking, does the treatment only prevent rusting from beginning or does it stop rusting from continuing also? This is not something I feel like making guesses on, so any REAL knowledge would be much appreciated.

When I was asking about this, the answer I was given- and makes sense to me- is that Frame Saver creates a barrier between the metal and the environment. It goes both ways, moisture and oxygen can't get in or out. Rust needs oxygen to start and to keep going. Without oxygen rust cannot spread. Kind of like putting nail polish over a tick or chigger head. So Frame Saver prevents rust from starting, and oxygen starves any existing rust.

It may slow it down some, but it won't stop it. Painting over rust starves it of oxygen, but the rust always wins.

I'm sure I've looked at this before- but you are correct.

I was also misremembering stuff about rust converters.

Thanks, I think each of your answers pretty much sums it up about as good as it can be anyway.

Most of the bikes I work on average about 30 years of age, and for the most part are fairly clean as far as oxidation. Sometimes the bb shell interior shows some rust but a spritz of WD40 and a wipe with a paper towel cleans it right up. As such, I don't see a need for frame saver aerosols, beyond a spritz of WD40 and greasing of all inserted parts, figuring they'll last my lifetime at least.

I am far more concerned with surface rust and paint bubbling, particularly if the bike may have been used during the winter (salt) months or at the Joisey shore and skip most frames with material issues. In rare instances I treat most scrapes and kickstand damaged areas accordingly with nail polish or enamel.

Aah, that's good to know since I live in a very dry climate. I've often wondered how much of the Frame Saver precaution is more based on paranoia and worry than actual necessity, as there are so many real old bikes around that are bound to be rusting on the inside for 50 years but have yet to break although they keep being ridden. No guarantees though, of course.

To make sure I'm getting this, on a older bike that's never been treated there isn't really a need as any existing rust will always be rust? If so cool, then I won't have to disassemble any of existing bikes I have.

Sweeeeeet! LOL (all those bikes)

+ 1. Maybe in some climates rust on the inside is a problem but by and large that is not an issue. I have one bike with that issue but I know it was kept outside for many years before I picked it up. It's a relatively heavy duty utility bike (a bridgestone BB-1) and I'm not too worried about the rust on the inside. It will outlast me.

Just picked up a purple 13" BB-1 for three Hamilton portraits last week as a refurb and resell candidate. Clean as a whistle.

That's a great price on that bike. It makes a killer commuter.

it just gives me a little more peace of mind and only takes five minutes.

i've used boeshield inside the tubes of all my keepers and also those nicer flipped bikes where bb shell rust was present (even though it was completely cleaned out).

I don't know beans about the the science, but it can't do anything but good.
I use LPS 3.
Marc

I'm confident I will not outlive my bikes.


Therefore, no.

For my keepers, I always pour a bit of linseed oil inside. I've used framesaver as well, and it's a great product.

you could use that biodegradable "Rust Restore" stuff first to remove the rust only(it wont hurt the paint) then use frame saver. Is that frame saver like a gas tank coating?

I am where eschlwc's at.
Since I strip down every bike anyway, applying Boeshield only takes a minute and will likely protect the inside surfaces for a very long time, given that it is unlikely to wash or wear away (as it would on a chain or other unpainted surface exposed to the elements).

This is the thread I started last year:

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...ting-rust.html

Thanks Golden Boy. Read through your thread... Had no idea that there could actually be so much commentary on this subject. Wow!

Really? Ha. Hang around a little longer and you'll see we can pontificate on nearly anything for page after page!

And what? I guess I should refer to my bikes as --ers then I wouldn't need to worry about such things either.

I would probably start with a OA bath and then give it a nice coat of whatever inside. I picked up a bottle linseed oil and if I used this whole bottle up treating frames I've got issues and probably one less wife. There's enough to treat quite a few frames and I bought a small container also. At least it's got quite a bit of uses...spoke prep, frame saver, ummm spoken prep. Lol. There's probably more but I'd have search the Google.

I said "sweeeet" because all those bikes you have kicks ass! I laughed because I imagined how much of a pain it would be to disassemble and Frame Saver each one would be. I call 700c wheels 700ers because I think Gary Fisher is a jackass for coining the 700c wheel a 29er, so it's an inside joke I guess. You took my remark totally the wrong way.

sorry for getting bent out of shape. There's a lot of jackasses around (besides Gary Fisher) and it's been a long day.