Oxalic acid is chromes best friend
 

In a recent thread about my 81 Univega someone suggested using Oxalic acid to restore my chrome forks. I think it may have worked. You be the judge.

Before:
http://fileanchor.com/86353-r.jpg

After:
http://fileanchor.com/88031-r.png

I think it worked. :D

I used two cups in about three gallons of water (I would have used less if I had a smaller container to hold the forks) and let it soak for three days. The third day wasn't really necessary. It looked like this on day two. A quick coat of Mothers chrome polish and it shines pretty good. It's certainly not perfect but it keeps me from having to paint over a cool part of that old frame. Thanks to whoever suggested this stuff. It works miracles.

Wow, Ima try that!

Not to hijack the thread, but how the heck is Mother's supposed to work? Whenever I use it, I get a haze. I put very little on and rub like mad. It starts to look pretty good, but then it heads downhill in a hurry.

You put the polish on wet and let it dry to a haze and then polish the hazy bits with a dry cloth. Kind of like regular car wax.

That's how I use it anyway.

Where did you get the Oxalic acid?

I too have had a hard time tracking down Oxalic acid; the Home Depot here in Toronto doesn't carry it.

I got a pound from a seller on ebay who sells it for cleaning iron stains from rocks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Pound-Oxalic-A...QQcmdZViewItem

He has a bunch left. At the time that I did the search he had the best prices (for both quantity and shipping). Other products have oxalic acid in it as well. This monster thread on a vintage BMX forum goes fairly in depth and has tips for usage:
http://www.vintagebmx.com/cgi-bin/ul...4;t=004702;p=1

Look for wood bleach at any hardware or home improvement store.

Another easier solution is 00 steel wool.

Az

I don't know. It doesn't get much easier than just pouring some powder into water and then putting your part into the solution and forgetting about it for a day or two. No elbow grease involved. Or scratches for that matter.

You can also get it straight from Mother Nature. Where I live, the winter rains bring a huge blooming of a weed called...wait for it...Oxalis. The little yellow flowers seem to have the oxalic acid in abundance, just crush and rub, you'll want to wear gloves. And your neighbors will be happy to let you pick all of it you want, hell they might PAY you.

I think I was one of the oxalic prostely... I don't know how to spell that word. Wow. I've contributed something.

It works awesome, don't it? Almost unbelievable. And steel wool by no measure is easier than oxalic acid. I steel wooled three bikes before I discovered oxalic acid and I will never go back. All the acid does is eat the rust, it doesn't touch anything else.

It's spelled p-r-o-s-t-i-t-u-t-e.

I've bought oxalic acid at the grocery, too. It's used for getting rust stains off of vitreous china (sinks, loos)

From Wikpedia - Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion

I recently picked up some wood bleach at a local Lowes. You need to look at the ingredients, find the one that says "Contains Oxalic Acid", that is your score!

Yes. I was too lazy to look it up. I always try to spell it with an extra T. A cross between prostitute and proselytize.

Here's where I buy mine... http://www.chemistrystore.com/oxalic_acid.htm

Can't beat that!

has anyone tried citric acid as an alternative ?

i have heard it highly recommended for flushing radiators and cooling systems on cars
it seems to be derived naturally and so might be a bit friendlier to use

Oxalic acid is naturally occuring stuff too. It occurs in plants a lot, even stuff we eat. Check above, unworthy describes a flower that produces a lot of it.

Is there a recommended way to dispose of the stuff?

Information I've found refers to the powder as a somewhat nasty substance because it can burn or be inhaled and damage the lungs, etc., but dissolved in water it's a pretty weak acid and heavily diluted it can be sent down the drain. Otherwise you're supposed to nuetralize it first. I've only really found reference to industrial applications so my guess is the amount you'd be using for a bike is so small that it's not going to harm anything. It's not a known carcinigen, for example.

I've found oxalic acid at my local pharmacy at a reasonable price. If they don't have it, they can get it.

Wow. Great price. I would have definitely bought that instead of the ebay stuff. Bookmarked for my ever growing fascination with C&V bikes- which probably means more chrome.

*Edit* and more rust- this stuf is a pretty good rust remover. You should have seen the orange grunge that came out of my forks.