Rust everywhere, what do?

[racingtothecafe]

Currently in the process of restoring an old bike and try to give it a more "custom-fighter" look. But the bike has been sitting for a while and there's surface rust everywhere including pretty much every nut and bolt I've removed so far.

The plan is to take the engine, subframe, springs, forks, handlebars, rims, and any other big bits and sandblast+powder coat them. I'm aiming for the blacked out look so needed to do that anyway. Is that enough to properly take care of the rust?

The plan is also to take the small nuts and bolts and screws and drown them in a vinegar bath. But I'm at a loss as to how do I a. Black them out to cover the rusty redness and b. Prevent the rust from returning. Drown them in a bucket of paint?

I'm hoping that people who have battled significant rust issues can point me in the right direction.

Cheers

[mossy1200]

Currently in the process of restoring an old bike and try to give it a more "custom-fighter" look. But the bike has been sitting for a while and there's surface rust everywhere including pretty much every nut and bolt I've removed so far.

The plan is to take the engine, subframe, springs, forks, handlebars, rims, and any other big bits and sandblast+powder coat them. I'm aiming for the blacked out look so needed to do that anyway. Is that enough to properly take care of the rust?

The plan is also to take the small nuts and bolts and screws and drown them in a vinegar bath. But I'm at a loss as to how do I a. Black them out to cover the rusty redness and b. Prevent the rust from returning. Drown them in a bucket of paint?

I'm hoping that people who have battled significant rust issues can point me in the right direction.

Cheers

You need buy a polishing rattler thingy often called a bolt tumbler. Not sure who sells them in NZ but someone will tell you soon.
Or make one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfIKAKePnhY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT20ghWMZA

[AllanB]

Errrrrr rust. evil stuff.

Somewhere in the boxes in my shed is a Selleys rust killer product that worked really well - kills it off.

After that is up to you but if rust over chrome painting it raises issues with sticking to the 'good' chrome.

Whats the budget - swapping out the shit bolts will Allen head stainless is pretty.


Or darth the lot in shades of black.

[pete376403]

A restoration thread I read a while ago mentioned the use of zinc plating to get the factory look on nuts and bolts and other small steel parts. Looked real good afterwards. Theres a good description here :http://www.triumphrat.net/classic-vintage-and-veteran/160243-zinc-plating-at-home.html doesn't loo to difficult although as with all plating, preparation is the key,

[skippa1]

Take a look here http://www.pro-bolt.com/vaf/product/list/?category=%3F&Type=8&Manufacturer=70&Model=1135&Year=1152&x=48&y=19
not cheap but very good.

[Tazz]

Drop them in some coke for a few days.

One of the jewellers at work also runs a D/C current through old tools (is the bomb on old rusty files) in the sink, with washing soda in there as well (I think you might be able to use baking soda). Think if you google electrolysis you might find a bit on it.

For turning it black again you can do an oxidization process. There are a few different methods.

[ellipsis]

...I recently used a rust killer that turned all the rust black and like glass...maybe that's an option......

[racingtothecafe]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT20ghWMZA

That is insane. Very tempted to give it a try. Same situation as the guy in the video, compiling a collection of rusty parts of all shapes and sizes. The tumbler probably is the best option since I can just chuck a whole lot of random bits in there and let it do its thing.

[p.dath]

You need buy a polishing rattler thingy often called a bolt tumbler. Not sure who sells them in NZ but someone will tell you soon.
Or make one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfIKAKePnhY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT20ghWMZA

That looks just like a stone polishing machine. Wilderness Gem's in Ngatea sell these.
http://maps.aa.co.nz/browse/retail+%26+services/all/waikato/hauraki/ngatea/13+river+road/wilderness+gems

[Tazz]

Thanks for the ideas everyone.



That is insane. Very tempted to give it a try. Same situation as the guy in the video, compiling a collection of rusty parts of all shapes and sizes. The tumbler probably is the best option since I can just chuck a whole lot of random bits in there and let it do its thing.

Yeah, maybe watch a few more of his vids before you jump to any conclusions aye...:lol:

[Banditbandit]

The plan is also to take the small nuts and bolts and screws and drown them in a vinegar bath. But I'm at a loss as to how do I a. Black them out to cover the rusty redness and b. Prevent the rust from returning. Drown them in a bucket of paint?



Cheers

Sounds like your on the right path. Sandblasting and then re-coating should fix the rust issues. Make sure all the brown has disappeared and has not weakened any of the metal. If you are doing the coating yourself make sure you get very good coverage. The coating will prevent air getting to the metal - it's the oxygen reacting with the metal that causes rust - so the coating prevents that occurring,.

On all my projects I replaced all the nuts and bolts .. you can buy black ones from most hardware and tools shops. I replaced them because older nuts and bolts start to get worn threads ... and if they are already rusty, then best to be safe ...


Think if you google electrolysis you might find a bit on it.



I googled electrolysis - Got this as the top site ... interesting ...

http://caci.co.nz/electrolysis?gclid=CjwKEAjwtYSsBRCDx6rM1v_uqmsSJAA Zgf2qi24rDRoEl1rhvkrNvEumZBBur-wTx_5svEa7ClSvbRoCq27w_wcB

[Tazz]

Sounds like your on the right path. Sandblasting and then re-coating should fix the rust issues. Make sure all the brown has disappeared and has not weakened any of the metal. If you are doing the coating yourself make sure you get very good coverage. The coating will prevent air getting to the metal - it's the oxygen reacting with the metal that causes rust - so the coating prevents that occurring,.

On all my projects I replaced all the nuts and bolts .. you can buy black ones from most hardware and tools shops. I replaced them because older nuts and bolts start to get worn threads ... and if they are already rusty, then best to be safe ...



I googled electrolysis - Got this as the top site ... interesting ...

http://caci.co.nz/electrolysis?gclid=CjwKEAjwtYSsBRCDx6rM1v_uqmsSJAA Zgf2qi24rDRoEl1rhvkrNvEumZBBur-wTx_5svEa7ClSvbRoCq27w_wcB
[emoji38]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/how-to-remove-rust-with-electrolysis/view-all

[Banditbandit]

[emoji38]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/how-to-remove-rust-with-electrolysis/view-all

Yeah .. I knew that .. I thought is was amusing getting hair removal as the top site when I googled "electrolysis".

[Tazz]

Yeah .. I knew that .. I thought is was amusing getting hair removal as the top site when I googled "electrolysis".
Haha yeah it cracked me up man. I just grabbed a link while double checking I had the right fawkin thing lol.

[Laava]

Yeah, maybe watch a few more of his vids before you jump to any conclusions aye...:lol:

Ssssssh! I was looking forward to the rebuild thread!

[racingtothecafe]

Yeah, maybe watch a few more of his vids before you jump to any conclusions aye...:lol:

Damnit I was already planning my tumbler. What am I missing? WHAT?

[Tazz]

Damnit I was already planning my tumbler. What am I missing? WHAT?

His awesome tools of course! There is no way you can make that tumbler without the proper equipment ;)

[Laava]

As Tazz says, invest in some quality gear and the bike will practically rebuild itself!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yVViJZ640yM

[gjm]

Rather than sand blasting, look at vapour blasting. Superb cleaning and definitely a better bet for engines and the like.

There's all sorts of rust-killing products available. I've used Genolite but don't know if it is available here.

[pete376403]

Baking soda blasting for alloy parts, cleans them up like new without damaging the metal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vuENNhOMQs

[Pro Blast 2015]

Awesome on alloy parts comes up like new

[actungbaby]

A restoration thread I read a while ago mentioned the use of zinc plating to get the factory look on nuts and bolts and other small steel parts. Looked real good afterwards. Theres a good description here :http://www.triumphrat.net/classic-vintage-and-veteran/160243-zinc-plating-at-home.html doesn't loo to difficult although as with all plating, preparation is the key,

agreed get rid of grease and for the main part if you just wire brush the surface rust of and spray them with a rust killing primer they should be fine i worked as a electroplater

rust cant surrive well folish with out oxygen