How to deal with corrosion spots on a cromo frame?

[MontyVeda]

got a few patches of corrosion around my BB....

it's a lacquered shiny chromoly steel frame...
is it just a case of getting all the rust off with emery paper and wire wool, then touching up with lacquer? Or will that make it worse in the long run? (the emery, not the lacquer)

any tips or advice appreciated

 

[fossyant]

Are you sure its not chrome. Get some pictures up.

if its chrome then you can clean up but it won't be a first class job

 

[L14M]

There is many ways, do you want to do it on the cheap?
If so then wet and dry paper will take most of it off, and then prepare it to be re sprayed. As with above it looks chrome so would need to be re dipped. That would mean the whole frame should be stripped back..
Liam

 

[MontyVeda]

it's lacquered chromoly... not chrome plated (I think anyway... it's shiny but not that shiny)

I've edited the OP with an actual picture of my rust on my bike

and here's the spec sheet for the bike (although mine's a couple of years older than that one, being a '95 model)

 

[winjim]

Autosol?

 

[raleighnut]

Seems to say nickel plate on the spec sheet!

 

[MontyVeda]

Autosol?

never heard of it, but a quick search led me to this... a combination of WD40, Coca-Cola, tin foil, a knife, Autosol, Brasso and elbow grease.

 

[MontyVeda]

Seems to say nickel plate on the spec sheet!

it says nickel finish.. not sure if that's the same as nickel plate.

 

[raleighnut]

it says nickel finish.. not sure if that's the same as nickel plate.

The only way to nickel a frame is to electroplate it (quite common on classic racing motorcycles) I'd try Solvol Autosol and a toothbrush then WD40 it to protect.

 

[MontyVeda]

okeydokey... I shall give that a go

thank you

 

[winjim]

With Autosol you only need a teeny tiny amount. And don't worry about it turning black - it's supposed to! I used it all the time back in the day when bike parts were all chromed. We even use it at work to clean parts of mass spectrometers.

 

[MontyVeda]

cool... cheers.... have ordered a tube off of Ebay.... hopefully it'll bring my orange 70's pedestal ashtray back to its former glory too

 

[MontyVeda]

update... Autosol worked an absolute treat...

 

[mickle]

If you plate an 'L' shaped object the material being plated onto the object struggles to get into the inside corner - it's because the two sides are asking for chrome/nickel/gold/whatever from the same small area of solution. Plating always goes on thin in areas like this. And you can't just leave it in the tank for longer because you end up with too much everywhere else. It's why bicycle frames are rarely plated, it's considered to be an inferior finish to paint or powder. Another longer term issue is that the chrome/nickel/steel sandwich in the presence of road salt will accelerate corrosion of the steel. It's not unheard of to have the steel eventually rust away completely in certain areas leaving just an outer shell of chrome that you can stick your finger through. Particularly cheaper steel. I've seen a couple of lovely old 60's Moultons that died this way.

In answer to your question ... fine wire wool and re-laquer it. You might have to repeat every year or two.

 

[raleighnut]

update... Autosol worked an absolute treat...

Glad to hear it mate as a nickelled frame does look very good (much better than chrome I think) just stay on top of any future spots and keep the cleaning down to a minimum & reapply WD40 after a wash. It may also help longevity if you get the chance to spray some down the inside of the frame tubes whenever its apart for servicing/replacement of headraces, B.B or seatposts etc.