Advice sought on Vintage rebuild

[Adamc]

Dear Hubbers

 

I'm attempting to rebuild a 35 year old peugot racing bike and need advice on how to get rid of the rust on the steel and chrome bits.

 

I have read that Oxalic acid is the best to use but cannot seem to source it in JHB.

 

Any advice on sourcing this product or other rust removal techniques that dont involve hours of energy sapping scrubbing?

 

Much appreciated

AC

[quintonb]

Some pictures of the affected areas would help.

Difficult to give advice otherwise.

[Adamc]

will post some tomorrow

[HeyYou]

As QB says, pics would help a lot.

 

Depending on how bad it is, there are a number of options.

1. Softish brass brush on your drill.

2. Rub with tinfoil.

3. Brasso and cardboard.

 

Whatever you use it's going to need some TLC.

[DJR]

As QB says, pics would help a lot.

 

Depending on how bad it is, there are a number of options.

1. Softish brass brush on your drill.

2. Rub with tinfoil.

3. Brasso and cardboard.

 

Whatever you use it's going to need some TLC.

 

Interesting one. When would you use this one?

[DJR]

As QB says, pics would help a lot.

 

Depending on how bad it is, there are a number of options.

1. Softish brass brush on your drill.

2. Rub with tinfoil.

3. Brasso and cardboard.

 

Whatever you use it's going to need some TLC.

 

Am I correct when I assume that you use the cardboard in stead of a cloth? To make the rubbing a bit more vigorous and abrasive?

[(Deon)]

Vid with a twist.. Coke is it!

 

 

Queue silent movie.

[quintonb]

Aluminium foil and water works a treat. There is a whole chemical explanation for how it works. Google it to understand.

But it does work really well.

[Skylark]

^^ www.robertscycle.com/chrome-clean.html

[Adamc]

Thanks all for the advice and info. I'm aware that tin foil helps but was trying to avoid the scrubbing efforts and give the bits an oxalic acid bath instead :-) anyhow Here are some pics of the rusty bits.

[Skylark]

The chrome on the rims look toast, other parts may be pretty decent under the oxidisation, I'd try some heavy steel wool.

[Adamc]

So I tried a brass brush on my drill and voila. Seemed to do the trick so far on the small chainring and crank arm. Takes a few minutes I was surprised how well it worked.

 

Agree the rims may be another story.

Edited August 29, 2014 by admcox999

[Vetseun]

As QB says, pics would help a lot.

 

Depending on how bad it is, there are a number of options.

1. Softish brass brush on your drill.

2. Rub with tinfoil.

3. Brasso and cardboard.

 

Whatever you use it's going to need some TLC.

I stripped the paint off an old Cannondale fork. Polished the aluminium to a mirror finish with brasso and cardboard. Patience was the key Edited August 29, 2014 by Vetseun

[Skylark]

I stripped the paint off an old Cannondale fork. Polished the aluminium to a mirror finish with brasso and cardboard. Patience was the key

 

What function does the cardboard play in that combination?

Used brasso many times with a rag, does the cardboard help to flatten the metal?

[Littigator]

Wire wool and parafin or tinfoil and Q10, both have a similar effect. Bear in mind once the chrome has got pinholes in it the rust will reappear. Depending on your budget you can send all the bits to Glitterama in Cape Town and they acid bath it, repolish it all then rechrome the lot.

 

I get bikes done regularly there in much worse condition than yours and they do amazing work - handlebars, stem, seatpost, cranks, pedals, headset bits, and rims for about R1000.

[LeTurbo]

Dear Hubbers

 

I'm attempting to rebuild a 35 year old peugot racing bike and need advice on how to get rid of the rust on the steel and chrome bits.

 

I have read that Oxalic acid is the best to use but cannot seem to source it in JHB.

 

Any advice on sourcing this product or other rust removal techniques that dont involve hours of energy sapping scrubbing?

 

Much appreciated

AC

 

Well done on bringing a Pug back to life. I've always had a soft spot for them, from the 80s. Those wire-brushed bits look much better. Now ... haha! To keep them that way .....