Topic: Quick and cheap parts cleaning!

[CBGBs]

1.Use extra fine 000 steel wool on bare aluminum, like the carbs and motor head. It will shine any discolored piece in about a minute. Just remove oil first.

2. Use Brass wire bushing for pieces like the exhaust collars. Mine looked horrible, but in just a couple minutes most of the rust was gone and the chrome came right back. No chemical or cleaners needed. Showroom shine.
 A brass wheel can be used to clean corroded nuts and bolts in a flash.

Try both of these on brass parts as well.

3. Shine your frame with rubbing compound or polish.



Please post other methods if they are very quick and easy. I'd like to see someone take a barn fresh bike and place in a bike show within 24hrs.

[Gordon]

A little WD-40 on a paper towel will wipe the chain lube and dirt right off your rims and leave them nice and shiny.

[toycollector10]

See the earlier thread on Penetrol. I'm just taking a break from detailing my frame using the product. It's doing a great job.

You can probably get a free sample by going to their website and filling in the form. They sent me about a litre of the stuff in 8 or so little bottles.

[csendker]

Use extra fine 000 steel wool on bare aluminum

I seem to recall that steel wool on aluminum is not a good option over the long haul.  Something about microscopic bits of steel being imbedded in the aluminum and maybe some sort of galvonic interaction or something.  Or maybe this is just all the cold medication kicking in and resulting in halucinations.

[merc2dogs]

 no, it's true.  Using steel wool on anything softer than steel will embed small particals of steel in it.
 
 Bronze wool or stainless steel wool is the way to go.

 steel wool is ok on something that will be encapsulated with paint or varnish

 Sailboaters will realy get picky about it!

ken.

 

[CBGBs]

I know, I know. Naysayers have your say. I have been using steel wool for quite a while now and have not seen any problems. Others have as well. I guess I should be seeing little specks of rust on the aluminum or something. I've never seen such a thing.

[dagersh]

 Bronze wool or stainless steel wool is the way to go.

I keep hearing this. Where can these items be obtained?

Thanks!

Try marine supply stores - boaters are defnitely picky about it.

Gersh

[merc2dogs]

My local Ace hardware has bronze wool, in a few grades.

 I've seen stainless wool at Home depot, but quit shopping there a few years ago, so they may not carry it anymore.

Ken.

[francisew]

I read in one of the carb cleaning posts about using tin foil. I tried aluminum foil- it works really well.

Francis

[malcolmgb]

I know, I know. Naysayers have your say. I have been using steel wool for quite a while now and have not seen any problems. Others have as well. I guess I should be seeing little specks of rust on the aluminum or something. I've never seen such a thing.

It is my understanding that you will not see anything, that is the problem, it causes an electrolytic action which erodes the aluminium so over a long period your barrels etc are being eaten away.
Regarding the carbs aren't they some sort of zinc alloy and not aluminium.

[MgMt CB550K]

A good Cleaning product for getting carbs clean and other gunked parts is concentrated simple green.  I used Carb cleaner and a tooth bush which worked alright but soaking the carbs in the simple green worked amazingly.  Plus it's nontoxic and doesn't smell so bad.

[marz450]

I have been dealing with the cleaning of alot of aluminum parts latley and many are very badly oxidized.

Steel wool I find to be contaminating in many ways (the adverse effects on aluminium and the "shedding" of it all over my bench and work space)

What I have been using for aluminium parts is;

sand paper (600 - 1200 grit depending on the condition of the part) the black waterproof kind and wetsand the piece with 600, then 800 and so on up to 1000 or 1200.

Scotch Brite - Home depot sells this as "Synthetic steel wool" in different grades to mimick 000, 001, 002 etc. I also use this with water and it lasts much longer than steel wool and does a great job.

rubbing compound

Mothers aluminum polish.

I get great results from this method and get parts to a almost chrome sheen without contaminating any other projects, tools, parts, etc. with steel wool hair.

Some parts will not require the sand paper / wet sand step but it sure cuts through bad oxidization well.

hope this helps

[marz450]

as far as aluminum foil to polish pitting out of chrome;

Some say crinkle it up and dip it in water and rub the part with it, this works ok.

others say crinkle it up and dip it in Coca Cola and rub the part with it, I preferred the water as there was no difference that I could see and the coke is sticky / messy.

then I read a guy saying to crinkle it up and use WD/40 as a lubricating agent and this worked well, all methods helped remove the slight pitting that occurs on chrome but there were parts that just were too far gone (as always) but this is a valid method.

[mattcb350f]

I dip the steel or bronze wool right in the mothers aluminum polish and use it on aluminum. It is true that little rust bits will show up when pieces of the wool get stuck in the aluminum, but by that time it's dull and needs it again. 
 Matt.