Legs and shiney bits

[rustalan]

Hi all Don't know if this has been covered in here BUT I found a way to remove surface rust, clean and polish chrome all in 1 action.
A simple and inexpensive way to remove rust from and polish chrome surfaces by hand is to rub it with aluminum foil dipped in water. This process yields two advantages.
First, since the aluminum foil is softer than steel, it will not scratch the surface.
And second, a by product of the process produces a fine metal polishing compound that smoothes the chrome surface to a bright shine.

 
Geek Stuff
  Oxides are the key
Cleaning  Rust is basically oxidized metal or another words metal that has taken on extra oxygen atoms. As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the chrome, a portion of the aluminum will oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (i.e a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the chrome, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the chrome surface which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.

Polishing  Aluminum oxide is harder than steel, and the microscopic grains of aluminum oxide produced during the cleaning process creates a fine metal polishing compound which, mixed with the water you added, creates a paste that smoothes and polishes the chrome surface.

 
In English
  How it works
A common way to clean a rusted chrome surface such as a fender is to use a fine steel wool. However, when you use this method you have to use a lot of elbow grease and you still end up with a slightly dull surface with some amount of scratching not to mention the messy 'dust' left over from the steel wool. That's because you are physically scraping off the rust.

When you use the aluminum foil method you are dissolving the rust chemically so you don't need to rub nearly as hard and since the aluminum foil is softer than the chrome, you are left with few if any scratches. This method also allows you to get the rust out of some minor pitting without having to dig into the surface.

The aluminum oxide that is created by friction when you rub the surface of the chrome leeches the rust away and when combined with the water you added creates it's own polishing compound so you end up with a clean, smooth, shiny surface.

This info was taken from http://www.robertscycle.com/chrome-clean.html

Tried this on some old chrome legs that had a fair amount of surface rust and after about 10 min was very impressed. 

[pinnies4me]

Nice way to get rid of "Rust, Alan" 

[rustalan]

 

[GORGAR 1]

  Awesome thanks for the tip

Peter

[Crashramp]

Nice tip and interesting explanation of the process, thanks. 

[ddstoys]

Wow now where is the alfoil

[ktm450]

Interesting tip, will have to try 

[Mr Pinbologist]

Interesting tip, will have to try 

+1, very interesting 

someone was telling me about this trick just a week or so ago. I was a little skeptical about it at the time but now i think im gonna have to try it 

[Strangeways]

Interesting tip, will have to try 

I'll give it a go - great tip !

[Pinprick]

Interesting tip, will have to try 

I'll give it a go - great tip !

Me too - sounds brilliant and I liked the technical discourse.

[48]

I use this method on wireforms some old timer showed it to me when I was a young bloke trying to clean up an old bumper

[Marty Machine]

..... or you can soak the parts in Oxalyic Acid (Bunnings, Mitre10, Decking Cleaner etc etc) for several hours (or overnight) and do NO RUBBING.   

I imagine the foil tearing OFTEN when heavier rust keeps abrasing it...

Anyhoo  ;-)

[Olivia_jason]

i have not heard this before, will be interesting to see how it goes

[Strangeways]

Tried this today on the ST TNG legs. worked a treat - Great tip !

 

[rustalan]

One thing I did forget to mention "Wear Rubber Gloves" unless you want black hands