[CR]Restoring old parts

(Example: Framebuilders:Mario Confente)

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 08:07:58 +0900
From: "Dennis Young" <mail@woodworkingboy.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <CATFOODhd3ysF9k5qRb00001054@catfood.nt.phred.org>
Subject: [CR]Restoring old parts

I often restore aluminum parts by first removing tha anodizing (CR archives), then buffing out the dings and scratches. I have found the fastest way on aluminum is to use a buffing wheel with stainless steel compound. Yes, there is the sling it ding it factor too if you aren't careful. It looks great to me, a high polish like steel on aluminum, but of course oxidizing occurs without the coating and the aluminum gets cloudy soon. Still, if you polish it up every once in a while with some type of product, it looks good. If the parts are steel, there is nothing like a good buff job to make you say, "Ahhhh".

Dennis Young Hotaka, Japan

How come we choose from just 2 people for president and 50 for Miss America?

-Alfred E Newman


>
> Well this is a subject that I have some experience in but the best advice
> is "your on your own". There is no one method for restoration that works
> fine every time. I always attempt to do some cosmetic work on parts if
> they are in need. Now as far as using sandpaper to clean up a 27.2
> seatpost, that will work. You have to do some pretty heavy sanding to
> bring it down to 27.0. I assume that you are doing an aluminum post. I
> would use a very very fine sandpaper and lightly sand in the long
> direction. If you are trying to remove zig zag patterns from it, you can
> start with 400 grit then move to 600 and finally you can use a chrome
> polish to buff it to an almost new look. Alloy parts can be made to look
> good so long as you are careful not to remove a lot of material. Another
> trick, you can use baking soda on aluminum to bring it back to life. Put
> some on a wet paper towel and buff it into the aluminum. When you are
> satisfied with the results then wash off the baking soda completely.
> As for steel, if 0000 steel wool does not bring it back then it is a trip
> to the plating shop but find a good one. There are shops that can plate an
> item so it does not look like it was dipped with a lot of build up. The
> old Schwinn collectors are always looking for a good chrome plater that
> can do rims and not ruin the knurling that is on the face of the rim.
> That other tried and true method of ignoring some flaws always works best.
> Some of us think it brings character to a used bike.
>
> Ray Homiski
> Elizabeth, NJ
> ------