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Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid) 
#1 2008-05-19 2:15am
Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
OK Guys, so you want to get rid of rust from your chromed bike part but you don’t like the idea of having dangerous chemicals around the house. Well here is a great way that is so safe and easy a 5yr old could do it! All you need is a container (tub) big enough to fit your rusty part in, a toothbrush (scrubbing brush, dish brush etc.) and enough White Vinegar to cover the part. I just use the cheap stuff from the supermarket. Place your part in the container of Vinegar and wait a day or two. Remove the part and brush off the rust, then wipe down with a rag, if your satisfied with the job, give it a spray over with a water displacer (WD40,CRC etc.) or dry with a hair dryer to stop the rust coming back straight away, if your not happy, drop it in for a bit longer. So there you go, it’s that easy 
Try it yourself on an old rusty chromed part and I guarantee you will be amazed at how well it comes up!!!
Notes:
Don’t throw your vinegar away afterwards, it can be used over and over again.
It will go a rusty color after use.
It may help to add a tea spoon of Bi Carb Soda (Baking Soda) per Ltr of Vinegar to help speed up the process a little(caution, it will fizz up!!)
It may remove your decals if you use it on a part with stickers or decals
DON'T LEAVE FOR OVER 48hrs (it is possible to damage parts as it is acidic)
Here is a demonstration I done over the weekend.
Here is the Stem before being soaked in the Vinegar
Here is the stem in the container of dirty Vinegar 
Here is the stem after being cleaned!! Note, the top wasn’t submersed
The Vinegar I used
Last edited by Monaro (2009-03-21 9:13pm)
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#2 2008-05-19 2:35am
- Paul Dumbell
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
super tip!
If it dont rock...then it better roll
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#3 2008-05-19 2:50am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Awsome work Matt. Looks great.
Oh and home brand is a Gooda brand.
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#4 2008-05-19 4:24am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Nice!!! i found Molasses and water worked too but took several days to do the job....OA was good for a 12 hour dip 24 hours being also good..... now i have another excellent way to do the job....hehe no rust is safe here now!
Ohhhh CRAP!!!!.....Did you see that??!!
The lowest form of wit is sarcasm....theres a vintage saying for ya
COURAGE...ENDURANCE...MATESHIP...SACRIFICE...
"All your talk about dollars is killin it!": Sgt Smith from the movie "RAD".
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#5 2008-05-19 4:41am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
RL20II wrote:
Nice!!! i found Molasses and water worked too but took several days to do the job....OA was good for a 12 hour dip 24 hours being also good..... now i have another excellent way to do the job....hehe no rust is safe here now!
Yeah i've tryed the Molasses also, I used it on some forks, it does work and is a super cheap way, but takes a lot longer. I mixed it at 1:12 water but I think about 1:10 would be better!! The reason it works is because the Molasses in the water creates Phosphoric Acid. The down side is it tends to loose strength prity quick.
The reason I like the Vinegar is it seams to leave the raw metal cleaner looking. The best thing about these methods is they are Enviromentally Friendly.
Last edited by Monaro (2008-05-19 4:45am)
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#6 2008-05-19 4:45am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
yeah the good ol molasses takes ages LOL, and yep definitely enviro nice
Ohhhh CRAP!!!!.....Did you see that??!!
The lowest form of wit is sarcasm....theres a vintage saying for ya
COURAGE...ENDURANCE...MATESHIP...SACRIFICE...
"All your talk about dollars is killin it!": Sgt Smith from the movie "RAD".
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#9 2008-05-19 10:02am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Thanks for the tip!
It's not the kill, it's the thrill of the chase...
*****WTB Dia Compe Rear Black cable dated 1983 or 1984*****
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"
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#10 2008-05-19 10:22am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
RL20II wrote:
yeah the good ol molasses takes ages LOL, and yep definitely enviro nice
Would you say it was slow as Molasses!
lol
"This is my BMX, there are many like it, but this one is mine"
Full Metal Jacket
I Ship Worldwide! But you pay for it.
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#11 2008-05-19 10:28am
- Philtor210
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
That is a very nice tip. If I try it soon, I'll post some pics also.
Looking for these decals: Berringer bar, any S&M shield decals you have.
Looking for these parts, PM me if you have: Pivitol seat, purple rims, Ti 48 spline spindle, any Ti parts.
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#13 2008-05-19 12:53pm
- skywayray-banned
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Brilliant idea Monaro! I'm gonna vinegarise everything in chrome now!
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#14 2008-05-20 3:34am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Ok, here is the Head stem quill, it is made from diecast, I have just taken it out after about 20hrs in the Vinegar and brushed it off. Then dried it with a rag, Amazing!!!
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#15 2008-05-20 3:39am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Philtor210 wrote:
That is a very nice tip. If I try it soon, I'll post some pics also.
Yeah cool, I'd love to see how others go with this method, post up the pics!!
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#16 2008-05-20 3:57am
- dynoNFXman
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
this should be a sticky! im going to try this!
Eastern_4_Life
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#18 2008-05-21 11:58pm
- Crusty Old Bloke
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Monaro wrote:
Ok, here is the Head stem quill, it is made from diecast, I have just taken it out after about 20hrs in the Vinegar and brushed it off. Then dried it with a rag, Amazing!!!
That's mental! Thanks Monaro (should you be called Pontiac GTO by the Americans?), the before and after pics are amazing.
Crusty
Is it against the laws of God and the state to marry a Redline?
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#20 2008-06-26 6:19am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Monaro, that's a brilliant idea. Now I don't have to worry about my kids sticking their finger into acid. I've got some forks coming for my goose that are rusty and I'll give the vineger a shot. I'll post before and after pics up.
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#21 2008-06-26 6:59am
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Monaro wrote:
Ok, here is the Head stem quill, it is made from diecast, I have just taken it out after about 20hrs in the Vinegar and brushed it off. Then dried it with a rag, Amazing!!!
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/422/ … allsy7.jpg
Wow! thanks for the tip.
I'm so old school...I still call it a gooseneck.
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#22 2008-06-26 4:41pm
- Crusty Old Bloke
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Monaro wrote:
Has anyone tried this?? it works Great!! and soo cheap
Yep. Did it on some brake parts and also another time on some spokes. Put the spokes into a tall jar of vinegar, along with the nipples* and let it work for 48 hours. Pulled the rust off the spokes, you could see flakes of rust floating in the jar.
Pulled the spokes out, gave them a wipe with a scourer and they came up fine and dandy. Nipples looked new as well.
Thanks again for the tip!
Crusty
* tee hee hee, he said nipples...
Is it against the laws of God and the state to marry a Redline?
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#23 2008-06-27 11:08am
- CuriousTurtle
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Whoa, this looks great! I couldn't find oxalic acid in a small enough quantity - it was tons or nothing. White vinegar should be easy to find. Never heard of molasses.
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#24 2008-06-27 4:28pm
- woftam master
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Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
yeehah
cheap and safe
gunna fill my swimming pool with the stuff - the kiddies can still swim in it, safer than chlorine just gotta wear goggles.
and as they splash around they can agitate the mix.
the world just keeps getting better....
There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness
Formerly frittyclose
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#25 2008-06-27 4:36pm
Re: Rust Removal. Safe, Easy and Cheap!! (Not Oxalic Acid)
Nektopoli wrote:
BUMP might try this on my 600a frame
NP
I was just thinking the same thing. My 600A is serial # 1003
"OFF THE WALL" Since 1970
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