cleaning up rusty chrome rims?

reverendrally · Oct 27, 2010

got some old BMX rims I want to clean up. was tempted to paint them but it's all too much hard work.

what do I use? steel wool? WD40? what method, etc?

udallcustombikes · Oct 27, 2010

When I am doing it, I use 0000 steel wool and some chrome polish. If I am planning on keeping the bike I will unlace the wheel to make the cleanup easier. If I am selling the bike I just polish around the spokes.

reverendrally · Oct 28, 2010

how hard is it to relace the spokes though?

I was thinking I'd paint the rims but the relace just sounded a bit much.

scrumblero · Oct 28, 2010

use naval jelly on them, you will be amazed!!! :shock:

udallcustombikes · Oct 28, 2010

Lacing up a rim isn't as scary as it seems. Don't be intimidated. The first one will take a bit to figure out, but after you get the basics down you will get quicker. My first took me a couple hours, I can lace one up in about 15 minutes. Truing it up takes patients. There are several threads on here with tips and tricks, links to outside pages and videos.

Here are a few
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2887&p=27578#p30168
http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

A couple video links in this thread
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=32472&p=318111&hilit=lacing#p318111

Also check out the How To Manual. It is a collection of the most helpful threads on the site.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2599

reverendrally · Oct 28, 2010

scrumblero said:
use naval jelly on them, you will be amazed!!! :shock:

where would I find that? remember I'm down under

scrumblero · Oct 29, 2010

any hardware store should have it, and for sure any boat yard will.the brand i get is by Locktite corp. I think its just phosphoric acid and something to make it thick so it stays on there for a bit. :roll: