Heatherbikes

Hello, I was given a free vintage celeste bianchi. It looked to be in okay condition, very little rust. I got it home and noticed rust is around the lugs and joints, as if seeping through the paint. I looked down the seat tube and it looks fine, is painted inside. One joint on the rear brake bridge thing looks bad, but could just be rust. First of all the ones that concern me most.

Wanderer

Surface rust - clean it up and wax it.

Andrew R Stewart 

Until the paint and surface rust is removed one can't really say what is below. This is the delima with this kind of issue. To truely explore the problem commits one to some amount of finish removal. There seems to be a strong desire to discuss endlessly the potential or keep one's head in the ground. Andy.

Heatherbikes

I have more photos, don't feel up to shrinking them again, so will send a few.

Heatherbikes

Some more photos, this is the gist of the issue. The bike seems fine, but I was concerned about the rust being at the joints and lugs rather than random scratches.

unterhausen

rust is at the joints because there are edges there which means the paint is a little thinner, and the paint wasn't that great in the first place. Rust loves edges and scratches.

I see nothing that looks remotely like a crack, even in the paint. I suggest cleaning it better

fietsbob

Rust is coming thru the paint .. yes, first where paint is thinnest .. to do it right..

Strip (say,with a walnut shell media Blaster) it to bare metal, Repaint it entirely .. For best work and replacement Decals Hire a professional .

It was free, so now you have to pay to make it as you wish it to be..

Heatherbikes

Fietsbob: Yes, but for the moment, I'd like free to be free and am already going to have to get another stem, handlebar,pedals, tires, other things.... At first I thought it could just be my year round commuting bike, but the amount of magnesium chloride sprayed in my area in winter does appalling damage(and it's the pnw where it barely goes below freezing). If I like the bike enough to keep long term(it is a bit big), I will probably repaint, and definitely hire a professional!
Unfortunately there is a line up of 2 bicycles in more dire need of repainting.

Thanks to all for looking and letting me know it is not likely a crack, just have to get around to cleaning it up. Brass wool preferable yes? Last time I went hunting for brass wool I could not find it.
I have not time for a total take down and clean because I am waiting for some parts to make it ridable for me, and my husband has been sneaking it out to ride.

fietsbob

only by getting to the underlaying bare metal and then touching up over it with an undercoat then the color coat will the rust be stopped..

maybe as a hand paint job you can add more paint in the detail points where the sprayed on paint in the factory didn't cover as well ..

Torchy McFlux

The rusting doesn't look that severe really. While stripping and repainting is the ultimate solution, you could keep it as original as possible by just cleaning it better and then giving it a good coat of wax. That's what I'd do.

unterhausen

rust is fine. The powdercoater I was using quit, so I have been riding around with an unpainted rack for over a year. It hasn't changed much in that time. My next road bike isn't going to be painted because it is just an interim measure until I can build myself something nicer. And I've started to appreciate rust.

Maver71

I've never used brass wool but I do use a small piece of aluminum foil with a dab of water to the rust area that will be worked on. It works fine for me