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?



(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: https://imgur.com/a/x9Wuy#0
Build images: https://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.