Re: [CR]Restoring rusty old frames

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 21:20:29 -0400
From: "Joseph Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Restoring rusty old frames
In-reply-to: <352.2a9f98a.31e048e0@aol.com>
To: TODDCIRELLI@aol.com
References: <352.2a9f98a.31e048e0@aol.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

I am currently very excited about Evapo-Rust. It is a very safe substance that bonds with the iron oxide using chelation or some such mumbo jumbo and takes it off.

I had the great luck to buy an all chrome plated 1937 Maurice Selbach track bike at the Cirque. It must have had wonderful chrome at the time but it, like any chromed frame of this age, has issues now. So first I applied a thorough coating of Peter Weigel's Framesaver on the inside. There is no substitute, it is perfect. Then I did a light going over with extra fine steel wool. The Evapo-Rust specifies immersing the part and that was not feasible due to the cost etc. So I swaddled the frame in paper towels soaked in the stuff and covered that with a layer of plastic wrap and left it overnight. The result was no miracle, but it did take off a fair amount of of rust in a very benign way. It also left a dark finish on the bare steel areas and supposedly it provides ongoing protection. This is not a zinc "conversion" finish and has nothing to do with acids. My experience with naval jelly etc. has never been good and I suspect any acid does more harm than good.

How benign is it? My dopy cat snuck a big drink from the bowl as I worked. I frantically checked the bottle which declared it was non-toxic and didn't even have a warning about ingesting it. The cat is as perky as ever. I think the best thing about Evapo-Rust is that you get some improvement and do no harm to the frame or the various mammals around it, including yourself.

As to Tod's problem, that sounds pretty bad. Maybe it is ok if around the seat lug but I think anything else is a very tough repair. I suppose there were old school types who would split a tube with the right ID and braze on a sleeve to reinforce corrosion like that. I don't think there is any need to worry about the lug, just the tube and especially the tube at the lug interface.

Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ

TODDCIRELLI@aol.com wrote:
> Question for the group- what would be the most effective way to restore a
> bike frame that has been exposed to the elements and is rusting? Ninety-nine
> percent of the frame is solid, but one area in particular, at a tube junction-
> around and on a lug, is rusted to the point of pitting/lost metal at the
> point of the lug. There is also significant bubbling.
>
> Is this something that can be repaired? Re-brazed?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Todd Cirelli
> Mechanicsburg, PA