I sometimes get steel / chromed wheels that really need an OA bath. Has anyone sourced a good container that would allow a 27" wheel to be immersed? I have found a kiddie pool but it's 48". Something < 35" would conserve space and liquid.


BTW - wheel boxes (doubled up) with trash can liner filled to axle height leaks

I'd fill a box (or kiddie pool) with packing peanuts, then lay a thick plastic sheet (trash can liner) over the surface and press the wheel into it until it forms a plastic lined bowl the right size. Take care not to puncture the plastic with the axle, of course. Then fill with OA. Try not tot let the dog drink from it, unless you're planning to replace the dog anyway.

A wheel or a rim? I wouldn't submerge a wheel; that just sounds like a bad idea. I've seen people use the black accordion pipe fashioned into a circle with the top cut to soak rims.



Rudi, will a dog actually drink an OA solution? I suspect not.

I'm sure you're right, but I've been amazed at what a dog will drink.

If you're willing to submerse a section of the rim at a time over 8-10 periods of time, you could use a smaller plastic tub, and spin the wheel between immersions.

This is a good idea. A whole kiddie pool of sufficiently strong OA could be something of a hassle.

j

I have done wheels before, I built a 2x6 frame slightly larger than the wheel, then laid heavy plastic sheeting inside and filled it up only enough to cover the wheel. I took the axle, cones and bearings out of the wheel, then put a heavy layer of grease in the cups.

The wheels I used this for were from a Paramount. They had the original chrome plated spokes that were rusty. I only left it in long enough to clean the spokes, they were not in long enough to damage the aluminum parts. It worked quite well.

Just a note.....if the spokes on the wheels you are planning to soak are zinc plated, they will discolor and look horrible after OA.

This? https://www.fleetfarm.com/catalog/pro...n-dropping-pan

(https://tinyurl.com/45uk4fq)

Apparently has a plastic liner, not pictured.

I found bathtub liners at home depot for $6. They are flimsy plastic things used to protect bathtubs during remodels or new construction. I surround it with 16x8x8 concrete bricks (because I have a bunch handy) and put a liner of plastic ("painters plastic") in it. As long as your careful not to rip or tear anything it works fine. Although it does require a fair amount of solution.

I actually have one still set up that i'll try to take a picture of later that my brother used to soak the chrome header/exhaust from his Harley a week ago.

I've used wallpaper immersion tubs that can be found at smaller hardware stores. The big box Home Lowe's don't have them. They are only a few dollars. You have to turn the wheel a few times in them to get the job done but it works well.

That's what I've done in the plastic-lined box that I've used for soaking whole frames. The OA is deep enough that it takes 4 or 5 rotations (and thus 4 or 5 days).

Neal

It has been a good day but this actually made me laugh out loud.

Thanks for the replies. Smaller tubs just don't work well and 48" kiddie pools are too big. The current need is OBE - I was able to jam a freewheel removal tool (of sorts) onto the freewheel and break it loose. Strangely enough the freewheel wasn't tight. That allowed me to discard the rusty offending 1/2 pound dork disk.
I've decided to build a 28" square wood frame approx 8" high. I'll lay that on the concrete floor and line it with thick plastic sheeting. I think that's the best size to minimize the amount of solution and keep costs down.

OK - Here it is but you gotta find it - HA - Its the lid to a 110 gal spill kit - These things are all over the gulf - Some new and used - All you want is the lid - Them Louisiana and Mississippi guys probably gotta a few in their back yard - Of course if they are full you've got other problems...

If you can figure out how to make it spin in a constant circle in one place, you would only need a small container and a small amount right at the bottom of the wheel.

yeah, set it up with your trainer in your basement... but wear a raincoat!!!

I did consider a trash can lid - but it was too small. The spill kit brings back memories of when I drove trucks and packaged / hauled hazardous chemical waste for a living. Brute force handling of drums full of very dangerous chemicals was not a good long term proposition so I switched from chemistry to computer science after 2 years.
For years I'd see a drum in an alley or field and say - that's a 17A or a 6J.

I use a tub very similar to a wallpaper trough. Mine was a Christmas wrapping paper tub, picked it up used at a thrift store. I rotate them through. Do not soak the hubs. I use the same tub for forks.

For framesets, I just use a bath I constructed out of OSB and a couple of cheap plastic tarps. I used to use the kiddie pool, but I found I was wasting quite a bit of acid doing it that way. I've posted pics on my bath in one of the earlier OA threads.