Chrome Leg rust removal and polishing

[Strangeways]

Ric - If the chrome is peeling off, then nothing will save them. You could have them rechromed.

Ranex will react well with surface rust

[Ric]

I have a feeling the chrome will have rusted away - this isn't surface rust, this is like having brown legs

I will perhaps try an area and see how it goes

Otherwsie I will document how I save legs that have gone too far (the cheap and easy method that doesn't involve rechroming)

Thanks Nino

[Freiherr]

I just started reviving my Flash chrome legs which were 30 years in storage. They were dull and had some spots of rust. I used a plastic scourer with Nu-Finish car polish followed by a cotton rag buf.
All 4 legs were completed in under 1 hour.
Photos show one leg done alongside 3 dull ones.

[Crashramp]

Nice work, they should help you Flash look errr... Flashy!   

[flippnaussie]

Just a piece of advice I have learnt in my days of fooling about with cars.
Don't EVER use metal polish on a chromed surface. It actually scratches the chrome allowing moisture to get to the metal underneath, causing what you are trying to avoid.

Any furniture polish will be able to clean and shine your chrome without being abrasive.

Metal polish is for bare metal surfaces.

Simon.

[Freiherr]

Just a piece of advice I have learnt in my days of fooling about with cars.
Don't EVER use metal polish on a chromed surface. It actually scratches the chrome allowing moisture to get to the metal underneath, causing what you are trying to avoid.

Any furniture polish will be able to clean and shine your chrome without being abrasive.

Metal polish is for bare metal surfaces.

Simon.

I agree about not using metal polish. A good car paint polish like the one I used is OK for chrome as it actually creates a protective coating. I used Nu-Finish  polish on my Chrysler AP6 chrome for 30+ years and the guy who bought the car from me a couple of years ago wanted to know who re-chromed the bumper bars. When I told him they were original, his jaw dropped.

[rustalan]

After doing the Bunnings run and being offered deck cleaner with a mix of oxalic acid and hydrochloric in liquid form then told no we don't have it in flakes @ 100% I did some research. Went back today and told them to learn their stock lines. This is what you are after at Bunnings. Go to the concrete cleaning area near the timber area.

[DSB]

After doing the Bunnings run and being offered deck cleaner with a mix of oxalic acid and hydrochloric in liquid form then told no we don't have it in flakes

So its not just me! Thanks for the info. I will pick some up next time I am there. What seems an easy trip to Bunnings can turn into a frustrating adventure some times.  I was searching for Ranex for an hour as it was impossible to track down a staff member to help. Finally found it in the metal rust conversion/spray can area in the paint section.

[Strangeways]

After doing the Bunnings run and being offered deck cleaner with a mix of oxalic acid and hydrochloric in liquid form then told no we don't have it in flakes @ 100% I did some research. Went back today and told them to learn their stock lines. This is what you are after at Bunnings. Go to the concrete cleaning area near the timber area.

I'd be very interested to see if this is like the "Lightning Rust Remover" that is available in the USA ? You leave the rusted legs to soak in in a long container and the next morning they look new.

[Pajo]

I didn't believe the following method when I read it but after trying it out I can confirm it works really well.

Take a piece of aluminum kitchen foil and screw it into a ball. 
Soak the ball of foil in clean water.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves to stop your hands getting stained
Scrub the rusty leg with the foil and watch with amazement as the rust dissolves! Re-dip the foil ball in water as needed and replace when necessary.

I'm not sure what the science is but I think it is something to do with a chemical reaction between the aluminum and the iron oxide.

The foil seems soft enough not to scratch the chrome but certainly takes off the rust.  It's a very cheap, easy and safe method.

[rustalan]

I didn't believe the following method when I read it but after trying it out I can confirm it works really well.

Take a piece of aluminum kitchen foil and screw it into a ball. 
Soak the ball of foil in clean water.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves to stop your hands getting stained
Scrub the rusty leg with the foil and watch with amazement as the rust dissolves! Re-dip the foil ball in water as needed and replace when necessary.

I'm not sure what the science is but I think it is something to do with a chemical reaction between the aluminum and the iron oxide.

The foil seems soft enough not to scratch the chrome but certainly takes off the rust.  It's a very cheap, easy and safe method.

I did a post on this some time ago. Here is the link
http://aussiepinball.com/index.php?topic=8780.msg114239#msg114239

[DSB]

Take a piece of aluminum kitchen foil and screw it into a ball. 
Soak the ball of foil in clean water.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves to stop your hands getting stained
Scrub the rusty leg with the foil and watch with amazement as the rust dissolves! Re-dip the foil ball in water as needed and replace when necessary.

Does this method only work on chromed items or will it work on other metal or plated surfaces?

[rustalan]

It should work on other surfaces as long as the plating is harder then the foil.

[spacejam0]

I tried a test section on a leg with the wet tin foil method last night. Defiantly worked very well but would be a bit much elbow grease to do all for legs properly fronts and insides for my liking. I'm more your lazy soak it over night and in the morning its done type of guy.

[Pajo]

Thanks for the link Alan, great post.   Sorry but I couldn't remember where I saw your original post which is why I didn't put the link in myself.  I find the method works really well for me and I never have to go very far to find a spare bit of al foil.