Here is the bike. I haven't done anything with it yet, but the fenders could use some help. I know the oxylic acid bath, then baking soda, but IF they still don't look good, what do you guys do then? It would be to much to rechrome I would imagine.

https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...g/Capri022.jpg

Thank you,
Chris

They will probably clean up just fine, it's a Schwinn!

I've had great success using 0000 steel wool and Zud cleanser, which contains OA. I know how much you have into the bike, so how can you go wrong

I wondered WHO would be first to reply!

I just need to work on it, but it is Cold out AGAIN! With snow on the ground, AGAIN!!!!

Chris

Ditto on the 0000 steel wool. I've not used Zud, but Simichrome is great at polishing metal.

Simichrome is great, but for Schwinn fenders, it would cost more than the bike is worth.

I would run the OA bath first, then polish with something like Turtle wax Chrome polish, which is a polishing compound and a wax to protect it. If all else fails I am sure a suitable set of replacement fenders could be had for not too much.

Aaron

Definitely just an oxalic acid bath alone first. I know people swear by using steel wool but here are my thoughts on that:

Steel wool is going to produce small scratches in the chrome. Over time, if you aren't waxing or polishing with regularity those scratches are going to become points for more rust to start eating at the steel underneath. Especially if the bike is going to be exposed to the elements.

I can almost guarantee that the OA bath alone will fix your problem. A quick polishing with a chrome polish of your choice should leave them looking almost like new. Should you have significant pitting a good coat of wax should help keep those points from becoming rust magnets. From the looks of those fenders in the picture they won't have much trouble with that.

I should add that I never use steel wool except as a last ditch effort. I do use brass brushes and bronze or brass wool for some of the more stubborn stuff.

Aaron

I like bronze wool dipped in wd 40 or pb blaster. won't scratch.

I prefer crumpled aluminum foil to steel wool. Doesn't scratch quite as much and a bit easier on the hands.

Thank you for all the help. One ?, where can I find Brass Wool if I decide to try that? & aluminum foil? I thought that was for cooking! May try that also if it ever warms up!

T.Y.,
Chris

OFG, We were in your part of town yesterday & boy did they get the snow down there! About 7-8" in A2!

I ran into some fenders like those a while back. I took them off the bike, soaked them in a oxalic acid bath (using a plastic wallpaper dunking tub found at a non-bigbox hardware store) to get off most of the stuff. Some fine steel wool with WD40 next to get any rough spots, and then I wiped some 3-in-1 oil to the surface. There was some minor pitting but one can't fret about that. Taking them off the bike allows you to clean the underside as well.

The fender stays are that grungy looking sheet metal stuff. Cleaning those didn't really make them look much better, so I painted them with a white rustoleum type of spray paint to match the trim and decal color.

The fenders looked really nice when they were finished.

I get my brass/bronze wool at my local owned hardware store...you know the one...where you can buy anything from cookware, to bicycle tires, to seeds for the garden, along with anything and everything except groceries. I have also found it at marine supply type places too.

Aaron

Aluminum foil and water works really well. I think it makes a fine Al2O3 slurry. No scratches left behind.
Inexpensive.

+1 on the aluminium foil. It's a much softer metal, so it doesn't scratch.

I like the hardware store for bronze wool but they also sell a funky variety at the supermarket with the dish washing items.