First step paint then rust
 

I have almost all the components gathered for a restore of a 71' Jackson but the first step will be removing paint and rust. I did some light sanding to the heavier rust areas and was pleased to see that it was easily taken down to bare metal and the paint seems to come off fairly easily as well. I am considering a shallow tank and either using OA, evaporust, or even simply vinegar. If I use a chemical it will need to be outside but I am uncertain if the chemical will freeze or not. Vinegar could be used indoors in the basement but would it get the same results? Something that would remove the paint at the same time and leave the chrome work unharmed would be nice as the grooves around the lugs would be difficult to sand out. I will probably just work away in small areas with a chemical stripper but I am hoping for a easier solution.

You can scrub small areas or big with Turtle wax chrome polish and rust remover to a pretty good result, let it soak/sit, reapply, scrub with brass bristle brush or maybe try foil and elbow grease. ;)

I need to do this to a project I just picked up. Fill it up w/ Evaporust, let it soak, then spot-treat external scrapes.

I have only used EvopoRust on small parts. I am impressed with how well it works and the finish that it leaves behind. Much better than Oxalic Acid. OA will remove the rust. The problem is that it eats up some steel and leaves more pit marks, in my opinion, than Evaporust. I would start with Evaporust. Try it on small parts first. Then try the frame.

The 6 months ago, I cleaned up a rusty cassette. I ended up painting it to get a nicer finish. This time I used Evoporust and figured that the chemical rust removal would just save the work. When I cleaned the parts off I was impressed to see that I would not even have to paint them. I will need to get some oil onto the steel, because the rust will come back if I don't do something.

You could try electrolysis -
Google "electrolytic rust removal" - Lots of info on it
I can testify that it works like a charm, and it will also usually remove paint, which OA does NOT.
It would need to be done in a ventilated space, as it produces hydrogen gas.

Electrolysis works, I have used it for 2 full frames now. Be careful it will dull unprotected chrome and remove paint.

For me, the first step in a restoration is to build the bike good enough so that I can ride it safely. I don't care about a transmission so shifting is a non issue. I only care about the bike's handling qualities. If satisfied that the bike rides and tracks well, then and only then, will I start a build...

The test ride build - no gear shifting just go and stop on the list of worries...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28c81fadfb.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2f3d5c9814.jpg

Once satisfied, I build the bike before attempting to address cosmetic concerns...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...768e8983b2.jpg

If everything is all good, I get it all ready for paint and art, confident in the fact that I know the frame/fork set to be true and good to go...
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08a37971fa.jpg

Final pics next summer when I get back to Canada.

I pretty much changed direction and didn't use any chemical stripping at all. I was quite paranoid about harming the chrome so I opted using a little heat and razor blades to strip the bike. on stubborn sections I softened the paint with a torch and then scraped the paint off. It turned out well IMO and I will treat the inside of the tubes with evaporust then prime/paint then use framesaver or similar.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4821/...774d4afa_z.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7870/...b1d82edb_z.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4852/...ff818956_z.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7846/...a4b1c07a_z.jpg

Looks like you did just fine. You can see how the areas meant for paint have a dull or scuffed surface.
I've had great success media-blasting chrome parts with baking soda. Walnut shells would probably also work well.

Those lugs look very familiar. I have an old Mondia with similar lugs.

They are nervex lugs, lightly worked.

Yuup,Thought they looked familiar.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...da36fe7097.jpg