How do I remove this nasty rust?
 

Thinking of trying 220 grit sandpaper. Or lime juice.

It looks much better now than before. I used Windex and aluminum foil on it.

Thoughts?


http://i.imgur.com/5hmX6.jpg
(Since picture was taken, hardware has been removed.)

I have had luck with the green scotchbrite pads and some elbow grease.. It makes the parts a bit shinny but I would rather that than rust.

Oxalic acid crystals, water, 12 hours and a nylon brush.

i have been using a razorblade, semichrome, scuff pad, and finnally silver paint!

SOS pads on the cheap...for the moments you do not feel like braking out the OA. ;)

Edd-itt; Pics of the rest of the bike? :)

Ka-boom! This will do it, because I didn't have any OA crystals on hand I soaked paper towels in vinegar , covered rusty bits, scrubbed in the morning. This helped , but OA will do a better job.

soak in white vinrgar

Yup.

My faster dirtier method sometimes works too: Make a paste out of water & Barkeeper's Friend (which has OA in it). Spread it on the rusty area. Wait 5 minutes. Scrub with a scotchbrite pad. This got some rusty old steel rims looking nice last weekend.

So, if I do use OA, I should soak rags in it, wrap them around the infected area for 12 hours, rinse with water, then use a nylon brush or Scotchbrite pad?

But since I do not have OA (I may go out and get some), I could use white vinegar-soaked towels, wrap the infected area for 12 hours, then remove with nylon brush or Scotchbrite pad?

Thanks all! :)

BTW, the bike is just the last bike listed in my signature.

Current bike images: http://imgur.com/a/x9Wuy#0
Build images: http://imgur.com/a/ttfMW#0

Any acid will remove rust but OA will do it most effectively. It's best to submerge the part in a dilute solution. You rinse with clear water (and a nylon brush as the colonel suggested) to remove the whitish residue. Thereafter, you'll need to treat any bare exposed steel with something - on the inside of the bars I would recommend Boeshield. Externally some people use an light oil, clear, or just a good heavy coat of car wax. Anything that will inhibit rust.

PS - OA is great for chrome or painted parts but avoid using acid on Alloy or Zinc plated /Galvanized parts. It will attack the finish.

^+1 Precisely.