Remove rust from bike chrome handlebars

Bartoni79

My wife has a Dutch bike which has chrome handlebars. It’s been outside and the chrome is rusting. What’s the best way to bring it back to life without scraping off the chrome? I was thinking wire wool but it might be too harsh. Aldo what’s the correct paint to repaint the framework? Is it metal enamel? Thanks 

born_again

Autosol metal polish. But does depend on how bad the finish is now.

ris2015

Take a piece of kitchen foil, screw it into a ball. 
Dip it into a bowl of water on a regular basis and rub the handles.

No its not magic, just a chemical reaction.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Both very good suggestions for the chrome.  I’d be a bit reluctant to paint the frame personally. Depends on how bad it is.

If you used a rattle can you’d have to mask it up or remove parts and if you brush painted it that would look awful.  Frames are supposed to have a few marks on them. Old bike collectors call it patina 😉

WIAWSNB

Hi Bartoni.

Could you do one 'bar in Autosol, and t'other using t'foil ball? And come back with the results, please

Bartoni79

Once I get the rust off the chrome, is there anything that can be painted onto it to prevent the rust coming back?
The paint are just the size of thumbnails so was just going to touch it up…
thanks 

bjorn_toby_wilde

Kurust is quite good for stopping the rust in its tracks. It’s been around for years

If it’s just touching up on the frame then personally I would use Kurust and an enamel like hammerite if you can get a close match.

hareng

Could try leaving submersed in decent Coca Cola or White Vinegar over night, may or may not work if heavy rust.

Light rust baking soda and a brush, could try lemon as well.

Failing that Electrolysis just need a power source like a phone charger to a 12v car charger, bucket, water and washing soda, thats it. Much like anodising.

Section62

Bartoni79 said:

Once I get the rust off the chrome, is there anything that can be painted onto it to prevent the rust coming back?

...

Clear Lacquer should do the job -

https://www.toolstation.com/industrial-clear-lacquer-spray-paint-500ml/p44132

Bartoni79

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Kurust is quite good for stopping the rust in its tracks. It’s been around for years

If it’s just touching up on the frame then personally I would use Kurust and an enamel like hammerite if you can get a close match.

You put kurust on chrome or just rusty paint?

twopenny

When I was a teen and left my bike outside I got rust on the wheels.
Used Auto sol because it gets in the small area - and we didn't have foil then.
Now I use it on all sorts. Brilliant stuff.

When I'd done that used to paint with rust stop, probably the same as what's mentioned above. Liquid and easy.
Providing you look after the bike from there on you shouldn't need to paint anything.

I've used nail varnish for small jobs and clear for sealing. Lots of colours and shades. It's easy to remove if it's wrong. 
Lipstick to cover scratches. It's waxey so waterproof. Poundland and such.
The cheap stuff is good for this with lots of colour matches 
Worked a treat and cheap as chips