Remove rust from bike chrome handlebars

bjorn_toby_wilde

KurBartoni79 said:

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?

Kurust works on the rust. Whether it’s chromed or painted steel

Alanp

I remember using duraglit to clean my bike back in the day, or brasso, not sure if either are still available..

casper_gutman

As long as the strength of the frame and handlebars aren't affected and it's just a cosmetic issue, I've always told myself the rust is just an extra anti theft measure! 

rustybloke425

Autosol is the best product ive found for this. Brush it on with a medium bristle toothbrush. Make sure you wear eye protection, that stuff really sucks if you catch it in the eyeball. 

Mutton_Geoff

Spray with Bilt Hamber Korrosol, wash off when it's gone purple then lacquer over.

bjorn_toby_wilde

rustybloke425 said:

Autosol is the best product ive found for this. Brush it on with a medium bristle toothbrush. Make sure you wear eye protection, that stuff really sucks if you catch it in the eyeball. 

Why do you brush it on? I’ve always used a rag.

I would think using a brush is a sure fire way to get it in your eye.

Chloe_G

When I was little, we always used Brillo pads to get the rust off our bikes.

WIAWSNB

Autosol is great stuff. I'm pretty sure Duraglit and similar will also work to remove the rust and restore the chrome to near-new.

But, the chrome will have been pin-holed and will rust again. I've tried spray and brush-on lacquers - the stuff designed for, say, brass outdoor fittings - but neither was satisfactory. First, it tended to look 'coated', especially the brushed-on stuff, and was never as 'chromy'-looking afterwards. Worse, tho', is that it didn't last. Once this coating gets undermined, then you have a whole new level of upkeep

So, polish it to the finish you want. With round bars, a good way is to use a strip of cloth with the polish applied, and then use it like a loofah; clamp the handlebars firmly, and loof away. If you even give the cloth a one-turn overlap, but hold the two ends out of alignment so the cloth doesn't actually go over on itself (it would trap and jam), then you'll add an extra level of cleaning friction, and polish all the way around in one go.  

Once clean, I would then focus on keeping the chrome dry. Ie, spray it regularly with polish, possibly silicone-enhanced, in order to fill these teeny holes and shrug off the rain. And, wipe it bone-dry after any rain.

If that just doesn't work, then Auotsol again, and this time spray-lacquer.

As for the frame, I guess a small pot of brush-on paint would be best. You can Google Humbrol model paints, for example, and see if any are close. Or, have you seen any cars that are a similar colour - if you, then touch-up pots are cheap to buy. 

Photo of the frame colour?

Mutton_Geoff

Or buy a new one for £7.99?

https://www.cycleking.co.uk/components/handle-bars-and-stems/all-rounder-525mm-wide-chrome-handlebars__10442

99p more than the Autosol you were going to polish them with.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/car-polish/autosol-metal-polish-75g-636217.html

20vt-rs

I used to use a brillo pad on rusty chrome bike wheels when i was a kid, worked wonders (a tip from my dad!). I think then wiping the surface after with a rag soaked in something like WD40 or GT85, and keep re-applying it every so often will keep it at bay.