Oxalic Acid. Removing rust from Chrome the very best way! Options

[Ted Carl]

After trying some of the New School techniques listed here at VBMX and other forums, I can say without a doubt, that when it comes to rust removal, that I am going back to the Old School method I have used since I was about 10 years old cleaning beer cans. Aluminum wool, AC-500, Zep toilet bowl cleaner, Evaporust, and others all work, but all pale to the simplicity of this technique.

I have given Evapo-rust a fair shake, and fair share of parts. The stuff works good for some things, but is much slower, and much less effective than Oxalic Acid. Again proof is in the pudding. I have a Sting that I am working on, and here are some interesting results for you guys. This is an 18 hour soak.

Clamp Before

(IMG:http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/1918/clampbefore4ho.jpg)

After
(IMG:http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9123/clampafterrustremovalafter9rn.jpg)

Bars Before
(IMG:http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/1170/stemandbarsbefore0sp.jpg)
After
(IMG:http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/4310/barsforkspostclampafter2ga.jpg)


Forks Before
(IMG:http://img335.imageshack.us/img335/4207/forklegbefore2zy.jpg)
After
(IMG:http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/2350/forksfront7av.jpg)


Dropouts before
(IMG:http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2195/forkdropoutbefore4xf.jpg)
After
(IMG:http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/8201/forksdropoutafter8xd.jpg)

[ettsn]

I picked up a spray bottle of pre-mixed Oxalyic Acid solution from Home Depot the other day. It worked a charm! I found it in the plumbing department in a white spray bottle, with an orange label and sprayer under a brand name like Rust-b-Gone (or something, it's down in the garage). I went specifically looking for Oxalyic Acid, and they didn't have 'wood bleach' or anything like it, so I went hunting. I found this stuff, tried it and took a heap of rust off an old Haro. Not done yet, but certainly underway! I think the spray bottle type is great for surface rust on chrome bikes especially. It's easy to use, and the bottle was like $5, so minimal investment. Check it out.

-Paul