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Taking rust off chrome

Discussion in 'XJ DIY How-To Instructions' started by gman, Jul 14, 2011.

  1. gman

    gman Member

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    A cool tip I found on another bike restoration forum.

    Oxalic acid the main component in wood bleach and deck prep.
    The stuff eats rust off chrome like it's candy.
    I picked up a gallon of deck prep last night. I took a guess and mixed 1 to 1.
    Did a test with the chrome parts from the air box. Completely covered in rust.
    Dropped them in the bucket two hours later totally free from rust. It won't do anything about pitting.

    I am still damm impressed. I wonder if I could get away with dunking the mufflers in it
     
  2. HirsuitHeathen

    HirsuitHeathen Member

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    1 part deck prep to 1 part what? This sounds pretty awesome I have a lot of dunking to do if this works.

    - Matt

    P.S. I wonder if C.L.R. would work well with that stuff... http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm ?
     
  3. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    you can get Oxalic acid on ebay and mix it as strong as you want.
    it's a white powder and a little goes a long way. i mixed 1/4 cup in a gallon of water and found a nasty old screwdriver to test, took 2 days but it worked
     
  4. gman

    gman Member

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    I mixed it with water. I am still learning with this stuff. I mixed it strong cleaned the handle bars in a day. Watch it though leave it in too long and things start to turn green. Then you have to rub off the green. Do wear gloves it will make your fingers sting if you touch it.
     
  5. HirsuitHeathen

    HirsuitHeathen Member

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    Brasso has oxalic acid in it and works like a charm. It has a horrible smell, but it works! Used it instead of wet sanding all the brass parts in my carbs. It's all shiny and like brand new now.
     
  6. gman

    gman Member

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    I am lazy. Mix up a batch and leave the parts to soak.
     
  7. HirsuitHeathen

    HirsuitHeathen Member

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    Ha ha I feel ya.
     
  8. ProfessorBooty

    ProfessorBooty Member

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    I bought some oxalic oxide (sold as wood bleach) powder from Ace Hardware and mixed it two scoops (included) to one gallon. I used it on my carb hats and an old headlight bucket and bezel. I left them in there for 36 hours and they came out great, the rust was all gone.

    Definitely wear gloves, it starts to burn fairly quick if you don't.
     
  9. Bomonghani

    Bomonghani Member

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    Ever try soaking in a bath of coke? - reason I never drink it anymore...
     
  10. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Can't blame you there.....I wouldn't drink coke after I soaked in a bath of it either. That would get expensive and besides, all the fizz would be gone by the time I'd be needing a drink anyway. Of course, those little bubbles would probably feel invigorating for a little while..............

    Dave
     
  11. dwcopple

    dwcopple Active Member

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    I did my head pipes in Diet Coke for a day and scrubbed off the remains with aluminum foil. Now they shine!!!
    [​IMG]
     
  12. doc2029

    doc2029 Member

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    Regular coke has more acid than the diet. though all the sugar will leave it a sticky mess. I remember as a kid my dad cleaning the battery terminals on the car with coke...
     
  13. hennit

    hennit Member

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    Would it be ok to soak my shocks in a bath of Oxalic acid mixture? Or could it ruin them?
     
  14. george2524

    george2524 Member

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    I have been searching through many different sites looking for info on rust removal also. The least destructive and least toxic method I have found is electrolysis. It uses a low amp battery charger and washing soda, baking soda works also. I tried it on a headlight bucket and it did a great job. I plan on doing my shocks next.

    The concentration of baking soda is one teaspoon per gallon of water. The process is also self limiting.
     
  15. adrian1

    adrian1 Active Member

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    hennit what part of your shocks are rusty? If its the shafts throw them away and treat yourself to a new set!
     
  16. hennit

    hennit Member

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    no shafts look good just my springs are nasty looking. would I be able to take off just the springs and do it? How do you get the springs off?
     
  17. adrian1

    adrian1 Active Member

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    Just send them to a powder coater as is. You need a special shockie spanner to get them off but some wizard on here will have an alternative
     
  18. itom32

    itom32 New Member

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    Hi,i will give you a link to my Honda CB400Superfour homesite in Greece.
    If you are talk about rear shock springs,you can look how i solve the problem,and how i remove the spring from the shock.
    The oem absorver on Honda CB400superfour is Showa.But it is possible to solve your problem with the same way more or less.
    Im not expect from you to understand Greek,but if you dont understand something from the photos and you want to ask something,im here to help.
    The link: http://www.go4it.gr/smf/index.php?topic=3027.90
    And sorry for my bad English. :roll:
     
  19. itom32

    itom32 New Member

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    Ok i was so curius about the use of cola as rust remover and i did that test.Before:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Chemichal washing
    [​IMG]
    After only two hours: 8O only a light brushing with a hard dental brush
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    FtUp likes this.
  20. Maxim-X

    Maxim-X Well-Known Member

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    Now was that using regular Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, Vanilla Coke, anon, anon. :roll: :roll: :D
     
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