Rust Removal from Chrome

**IDoDirt** · 09-05-2010, 08:25 PM

Rust Removal from Chrome

Hey everyone, I'm new here, but I thought I'd just jump right in and share something with you. I recently picked up my 2004 Rebel 250. It's is great shape, but with a few flaws. There is some rust on some of the things, and being a little on the anal side I thought I'd do some research on removing rust from Chrome.

I'll have to give credit to this method to a bicycle restoration web site that I came across. They had some amazing examples of how well it worked. I have some photo's that show before and after (not exact images, but close enough) of the rust.

The stuff I used is called Oxalic Acid. It comes in a crystaline form (looks like sugar). It's mixed with water, about 1 tablespoon per gallon. I was able to get some off of ebay (you can buy anything on there) for about $5 for 2lbs. After shipping, it totaled about $11. A pretty low investment if it didn't work. Anyway, I have a plastic bin that I use for working on things like carburetors and other things that holds most anything I spill. I filled it with 4 gallons of water and 4 tablespoons of the Oxalic Acid crystals. I stirred it around a bit until disolved. I put the items in and checked back every 1/2 hour or so. With very gentle brushing with a parts cleaner brush I have in about 1.5 hours the rust was gone. I was very amazed at how well this worked. You look at the photos and see what you think.

Side Stand Spring Before

Side Stand After (that's the exhaust pipe in the background, I haven't done that yet)

Handle Bars Before

During the Soaking (brown stuff on the end is the rubber cement that holds the hand grip on)

After Installation

Feel free to ask any questions, I'll answer as best I can. Afterword, I dried them with paper towels and then applied a nice coat of wax so they don't rust again.

**Buickguy** · 09-05-2010, 09:37 PM

I've always been a fan of acid rust removal from chrome. I have generally uses toilet bowl cleaner. I may try the oxalic acid next time out.

**darkrein** · 09-05-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buickguy

I've always been a fan of acid rust removal from chrome. I have generally uses toilet bowl cleaner. I may try the oxalic acid next time out.

what brand of toilet bowl cleaner?... i have lots of rusty places also i have been trying to figure out how to clean... that would be easier and quicker to obtain, at walmart, and don't have to worry about shipping....

Willie

**cagie** · 09-05-2010, 10:08 PM

anyone ever try CLR?

**Buickguy** · 09-05-2010, 10:52 PM

Darkrein, The Works. Same stuff they talk about using for cleaning rusty fuel tanks.

Cagie, Yes. The CLR does pretty well with the mild cases of rust on chrome for smaller stuff. The toilet cleaner bit worked for me on Buick bumpers!

**Fridgitator** · 09-06-2010, 12:12 AM

I'm truly impressed.

**flitecontrol** · 09-06-2010, 12:18 AM

Now if we could find something that removes rust from chrome AND refinishes the chrome so the rust won't come back so soon!

**bB2NER** · 09-07-2010, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flitecontrol

Now if we could find something that removes rust from chrome AND refinishes the chrome so the rust won't come back so soon!

I like using elbow grease and chrome polish. It does both.

**flitecontrol** · 09-07-2010, 10:26 AM

I may be wrong, but always thought that chrome polish, being abrasive, actually removed a minute amount of the finish every time you used it. It does leave a bit of protective coating, but so does wax.

**fastpakr** · 09-07-2010, 10:54 AM

Yep, that was my understanding with chrome polish as well.

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