Rat Rod Junior

[The Renaissance Man]

This 24" J.C. Higgins has been sitting behind my shop for the last two years and it's time to do something with it.

I plan to build a true rat out of it and have it ready in time to show at the Get-A-Grip show in just a couple of weeks. This should make a very cool bike for a rat rodding kid and it will be for sale at the show.

 

[kingfish254]

Cool bike and cool plan

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Looks like another week and it would have been a pile of dust , lol
Looks like a cool start .

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Looks like another week and it would have been a pile of dust , lol
Looks like a cool start .

I'm placing all of my bets on oxalic acid.

I've never used it, so it will be a learning experience. Any tips from the pros would be appreciated and welcomed!

 

[kingfish254]

I'm placing all of my bets on oxalic acid.

I've never used it, so it will be a learning experience. Any tips from the pros would be appreciated and welcomed!

@joel.romeo.79 is your man for oxalic baths

 

[Bike Bum]

I've used oxalic acid and it works great. Most of the old paint stayed but all the rust was gone. Just make sure you put enough acid in the water or it takes forever for it to work.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Anyone need a slightly used set of tires and wheels? Buy them both and I'll throw in the chain for free.

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

That is pretty darned classic TRM!

 

[RustyGold]

Remember 'AAA'...Always Add Acid...start weak and add the OA until you get the desired reaction.

Jason

 

[thebigorangecat]

Here is something to shoot for, lol - One of my fav. builds! Love the chainguard.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

It put up a good fight, but I got most of it apart and only had to cut three bolts. I found a couple of issues also, but I'll deal with them later.

The weather outlook looks favorable for getting this thing in an OA bath tomorrow.

 

[RustySprockets]

Try to submerge the part entirely while soaking, otherwise acids tend to leave a nasty parting line where they break the surface. Something like a kiddie wading pool is probably deep enough to treat the whole frame at once.

For sale? Ha! A bike built by TRM is worthy of a raffle.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Try to submerge the part entirely while soaking, otherwise acids tend to leave a nasty parting line where they break the surface. Something like a kiddie wading pool is probably deep enough to treat the whole frame at once.

What ratio do you mix per gallon? Getting things ready to do this today.

 

[RustySprockets]

It probably doesn't need more than a tablespoon or so per gallon. The strength of the solution will depend on both the amount used and the purity of your granules. Start slow...you can always add more.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

I mixed it a little weaker, better safe than sorry. It ended up using roughly 18 gallons of water and I added 12 tablespoons of OA. (2 teaspoons per gallon)

 

[RustySprockets]

And now, we play the waiting game...

 

[joel.romeo.79]

Hot water and 2ph. I keep a few pots boiling and add it as I go. I brush the parts whenever I add water. Usually take a couple hours to see color.

Sent from my E6833 using Tapatalk

 

[joel.romeo.79]

If it starts to "snow" in your solution you are too cold. That precipitation is your acid dropping out of suspension and rechrystalizing. It will also do that with extremely hard water or hard water "damage" on the frame. Think that stuff that collects in your wheel wells or the crusty water damage on old fixtures. Calcium magnesium and lyme.

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[The Renaissance Man]

If it starts to "snow" in your solution you are too cold. That precipitation is your acid dropping out of suspension and rechrystalizing.

So can you reverse that by raising the temperature again? Thanks!

Joel the science guy!

 

[RustySprockets]

Sure, you can warm it up, but I wouldn't try that in the wife's favorite cookware.