Rust and preservation
08-14-09 | 06:50 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Raleigh Superbe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 146
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From: Cleburne, TX
Bikes: 1974 Raleigh Superbe, Roadmaster Mountain Sport Mountain Bike
Rust and preservation
I have heard about usin Coke or Lemon juice and tin foil to remove rust from chrome but what about painted surfaces? Also I have logos and wrighting on the rusted surface that I wish to preserve or at the very least replicate.
08-14-09 | 08:13 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 686
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From: Central Illinois
I find that Armor-All is a good rust fighter/preventer. I spray it all over the bike, particularly those "rust spots".
I've never used it to try to rub or clean rust off, but it does seem to dissolve it over time.
I've never used it to try to rub or clean rust off, but it does seem to dissolve it over time.
08-14-09 | 09:53 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Raleigh Superbe
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Cleburne, TX
Bikes: 1974 Raleigh Superbe, Roadmaster Mountain Sport Mountain Bike
Hm, a bit of a dilemma all right. What you have right now is patina, which I'd be tempted to preserve. Once that goes, a bike is never quite the same again. Personally, I'd rub the areas where there are rust spots with some kerosene on a rough cloth like an old face flannel. This should remove the rust, but go easy and avoid the decals. It is possible to do a full mechanical overhaul on an old bike and preserve the patina. It's your call, but that would be my instinct.
08-14-09 | 10:36 AM
#4
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
You can spray the whole thing with WD-40 or penetrating oil, let it sit a while, then wipe it down; it won't hurt anything and it will take off a lot of grime. Even rubbing the whole thing with motor oil will improve its appearance pretty well. Wipe it all off with a rag, and if your rag comes away clean, you've got as much off as you're going to get. If the paint is still too dull, you can use some polishing compound, but go easy there, it's easy to go right through the decals, and the paint, with abrasives of that kind. When you've got it as clean as it's going to get, apply a lot of wax (rather than lacquer), let dry, and buff.
08-14-09 | 02:20 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Seattle
Bikes: Steel
08-14-09 | 08:12 PM
#6
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,639
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From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Search is your friend. Rust is discussed a couple of times a week. Lots of ideas, opinions, and experiences out there. Be sure to sort by relevance.
