How do I shine the rivets on a saddle?
 

I picked up a 1974 Fuji Special Road Racer a while back, and I'm just getting around to breaking it down and cleaning it up. I've been able to find plenty of info on cleaning up the metal bits, but I'm not quite sure how to attack this:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6...c1cdf758f7.jpg
Fujita BELT saddle by JPTwins, on Flickr

The saddle came apart pretty easily, and the rails will go into an OA bath (my first!). For the leather, i was planning on using some of the VO saddle care. But i don't really know how to clean up the metal rivets on TOP of the saddle without scuffing up the leather around it.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6...83f89c214c.jpg

what the trick there?

I might try the tip of a rag dipped into a bit of paste made with a small amount of Barkeeper's Friend.

Simichrome polish would probably work.

but some brasso on you bum and ride a century

The ones on mine have a little patina on them as well but I kind of like it so I'm not touching it.

You could try a q-tip that's damp with vinegar.




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I like this idea best. You don't even need the brasso. For the correct look, you want some of them polished more than others. Riding will polish them just right.

If you insist on cheating, though, brasso (or the like) is what you need. Dab some onto each rivet with a q-tip and let it sit a little while, then start rubbing them with the q-tip in a vigorous circular motion.

You can tape off the leather and then use some steel wool and WD40. Works for me.

While I'm not about to ride a century on a saddle i've never used, this seems like the best way (minus the brasso).

odd, that never occurred to me. thanks everyone for the ideas. If i start to go crazy with the look, i'll use some of the chemical ideas!

I would be afraid that the Brasso would stain the leather.

Use a worn-out bronze-wire brush on a Dremel tool -- you want the brush head to be as small as possible. And then pretend like you're a dental hygienist.

Ride more...

Do you know if those are steel or copper rivets? I've been polishing brass rivets on Brooks saddles for thirty years. Use Simichrome (best) or Brasso. It takes a combination of chemicals to disolve the vertigris and mechanical action to rub it out. If you have a newer lighter colored saddle the leather will stain around each rivet inspite of your best efforts to mask the rivets. Waxing the leather before polishing the rivets may make you think it's not soaking into the leather as much, it still soaks in, but you feel better because you think you're at least mitigating it a bit.

Vinegar is not powerful enough to work easily. I've tried.

The goods news is that over time even a tan saddle will darken after a few years and the slightly stained leather around the rivets doesn't look bad at all.

On your old saddle you won't notice any staining at all.

If the rivets are steel use a rust eraser. Most easily found as a track cleaner at a hobby shop that sells model trains. Also at a hobby shop you can find small files that also work on steel rivets.

I am one to jump in and get all aggressive with stuff but in this case. I would leave the patina on the rivets. It's going to take motion to get a shine/polish. and that's going to be right next to the leather. You risk taking the patina off the leather or not getting a full polish on the rivet.

This^^

A 20 mile ride shines them right up.

They'll just re-oxidize anyway, unless you clear coat them or something.
I'd leave them alone.

Butt-rubbed rivets are a sign of a bike ridden like it was meant to be.

+1 Patina. Savor it.

Your butt will polish it just fine.

who sits on the rivets?

i like MKahrl's advice, but if it was mine i would leave as is.

Well, I keep the copper rivets on my B17 nice and shiny by just riding it...

SP
Bend, OR

The copper rivets on my forty year old saddle look great. Shiny but not bright coppery. The secret: daily riding.