Removing rust?

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. This is my second set. The first
set, after 6 months, the spokes started showing rust spots, even though
I wipe them down regularly (but did not coat them with anything). So
Shimano warranteed them, and I got a new set in Feb. Guess what? Had
the wheels on a bike I was not using for 3 months, and now the spokes
are rusting again.

Huh? Rust on spokes? Now, some exotic wheels might be different, but
normal wheels not built for kiddie bikes use stainless steel spokes, which
will not rust -- certainly not under usual conditions.

Back when I was a kid most spokes were chrome (or nickel) plated steel, so
they could rust under the plating. But that was 40 years ago.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It is a scientifically proven fact that a mid life crisis can
_`\(,_ | only be cured by something racy and Italian. Bianchis and
(_)/ (_) | Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris. --
Glenn Davies

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. .. the spokes started showing rust spots, even though I wipe them down regularly

They should indeed be stainless, but you can make a simple materials test by using a simple fridge magnet. Stainless is pretty close to non-magnetic, so if the fridge magnet sticks you have yor answer right there.
Could it be a transfer issue? If you use something abrasive first on steel and then on stainless you will transfer particles over to the stainless stuff. These particles can then cause rust stains in the stainless surface.

Shimano makes everything from entry level cheapos to possibly the best in the
world today. Probably galvanized steel. They do rust, a little 0000 steel wool
and brasso helps. There is no kind of covering that will prevent rust better
than zinc, the primary in galvanizing.

Stainless is the only way to go if you find rust objectionable.

Bianchis and Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris in terms of
initial purchase price, but consider the price per pound. That $3,000, 25 pound
Colnago is $120 a pound. The $50,000 2500 pound Ferrari is $20 a pound.

Both chrome and nickel plate are roughly equal to zinc in preventing rust, but
cost much more. Chrome tends to be brittle and crack more readily than zinc.
I don't know if I ever seen any nickel plated spokes.

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. This is my second set. The first
set, after 6 months, the spokes started showing rust spots, even though
I wipe them down regularly (but did not coat them with anything). So
Shimano warranteed them, and I got a new set in Feb. Guess what? Had
the wheels on a bike I was not using for 3 months, and now the spokes
are rusting again.

Huh? Rust on spokes? Now, some exotic wheels might be different, but
normal wheels not built for kiddie bikes use stainless steel spokes, which
will not rust -- certainly not under usual conditions.

Back when I was a kid most spokes were chrome (or nickel) plated steel, so
they could rust under the plating. But that was 40 years ago.

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. This is my second set. The first
set, after 6 months, the spokes started showing rust spots, even though
I wipe them down regularly (but did not coat them with anything). So
Shimano warranteed them, and I got a new set in Feb. Guess what? Had
the wheels on a bike I was not using for 3 months, and now the spokes
are rusting again. I'm wondering if this is just a surface/finish
thing, and if anyone has some magic potion that I could try to get this
gunk off, or am I going to have to deal with Simano again (or just
forget it, too much trouble, toss em (or get new (better) spokes and not
buy Shimano wheels again...)

If you're just looking for a way to remove surface rust, use Naval
Jelly. You can find it at most auto supply stores like Murray's, Pep
Boys, Napa, etc.

Last time I needed some I went to the local Pep Boys. I couldn't find
it, so I asked one of the clerks if they had Naval Jelly. He wanted to
know what that was, so I told him it was used to remove rust. He said
they had rust remover, and led me to a shelf where he picked out a
small bottle. On the bottle it said "Naval Jelly" in big letters, and
under that "rust remover" in a much smaller font. Sigh!

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3

yup. sandpaper.

Thanks; I'll give that a shot. The spokes seem to have some sort of
paint-like coating on them, but apparently that does not help. I'm
thinking if I can get it off, I'll just keep a light lube coating (like
Phil Wood's Tenacious Oil" and wipe them down with that once a week or so.

Thanks!

Dave

John Everett said:

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. This is my second set. The first
set, after 6 months, the spokes started showing rust spots, even though
I wipe them down regularly (but did not coat them with anything). So
Shimano warranteed them, and I got a new set in Feb. Guess what? Had
the wheels on a bike I was not using for 3 months, and now the spokes
are rusting again. I'm wondering if this is just a surface/finish
thing, and if anyone has some magic potion that I could try to get this
gunk off, or am I going to have to deal with Simano again (or just
forget it, too much trouble, toss em (or get new (better) spokes and not
buy Shimano wheels again...)

If you're just looking for a way to remove surface rust, use Naval
Jelly. You can find it at most auto supply stores like Murray's, Pep
Boys, Napa, etc.

Last time I needed some I went to the local Pep Boys. I couldn't find
it, so I asked one of the clerks if they had Naval Jelly. He wanted to
know what that was, so I told him it was used to remove rust. He said
they had rust remover, and led me to a shelf where he picked out a
small bottle. On the bottle it said "Naval Jelly" in big letters, and
under that "rust remover" in a much smaller font. Sigh!

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3

Hmm, Phil Wood's Tenacious at $48.00 a quart, or Castrol GTX 10W-40 at
$3.00 a quart. I know which I would use...

Dale Benjamin said:

Shimano makes everything from entry level cheapos to possibly the best in the
world today. Probably galvanized steel. They do rust, a little 0000 steel wool
and brasso helps. There is no kind of covering that will prevent rust better
than zinc, the primary in galvanizing.

Stainless is the only way to go if you find rust objectionable.

Bianchis and Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris in terms of
initial purchase price, but consider the price per pound. That $3,000, 25 pound
Colnago is $120 a pound. The $50,000 2500 pound Ferrari is $20 a pound.

Both chrome and nickel plate are roughly equal to zinc in preventing rust, but
cost much more. Chrome tends to be brittle and crack more readily than zinc.
I don't know if I ever seen any nickel plated spokes.

usually, anything chrome plated is first plated with nickel.

regarding rust prevention, chrome is not really good at preventing rust
in the same way zinc is. chrome provides a layer of impermeability and
is itself quickly passivates, but as it usually contains pores, those
allow corrosion in the steel beneath and that in turn undercuts the
plating. chrome can be kept looking bright & shiny with regular
polishing, but left to its own devices, it soon looks awful. zinc on
the other hand corrodes quite badly, but it protects steel by corroding
/in preference/ to the steel. even porus zinc protects steel provided
the pore size is not too large because again, zinc corrodes in
preference to steel. once the zinc is consumed, the steel corrodes as
per normal.

Quoted message said:

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave R said:

So I have a set of Shimano wheels. This is my second set. The first
set, after 6 months, the spokes started showing rust spots, even though
I wipe them down regularly (but did not coat them with anything). So
Shimano warranteed them, and I got a new set in Feb. Guess what? Had
the wheels on a bike I was not using for 3 months, and now the spokes
are rusting again.

Huh? Rust on spokes? Now, some exotic wheels might be different, but
normal wheels not built for kiddie bikes use stainless steel spokes, which
will not rust -- certainly not under usual conditions.

Back when I was a kid most spokes were chrome (or nickel) plated steel, so
they could rust under the plating. But that was 40 years ago.

"jim beam" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dale Benjamin said:

Shimano makes everything from entry level cheapos to possibly the best in

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

world today. Probably galvanized steel. They do rust, a little 0000 steel

wool

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and brasso helps. There is no kind of covering that will prevent rust

better

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

than zinc, the primary in galvanizing.

Stainless is the only way to go if you find rust objectionable.

Bianchis and Colnagos are a lot cheaper than Maserattis and Ferraris in

terms of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

initial purchase price, but consider the price per pound. That $3,000, 25

pound

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Colnago is $120 a pound. The $50,000 2500 pound Ferrari is $20 a pound.

Both chrome and nickel plate are roughly equal to zinc in preventing rust,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cost much more. Chrome tends to be brittle and crack more readily than

zinc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't know if I ever seen any nickel plated spokes.

usually, anything chrome plated is first plated with nickel.

regarding rust prevention, chrome is not really good at preventing rust
in the same way zinc is. chrome provides a layer of impermeability and
is itself quickly passivates, but as it usually contains pores, those
allow corrosion in the steel beneath and that in turn undercuts the
plating. chrome can be kept looking bright & shiny with regular
polishing, but left to its own devices, it soon looks awful. zinc on
the other hand corrodes quite badly, but it protects steel by corroding
/in preference/ to the steel. even porus zinc protects steel provided
the pore size is not too large because again, zinc corrodes in
preference to steel. once the zinc is consumed, the steel corrodes as
per normal.

I don't recall ever seeing it explained so concisely before, but have to admit
that agrees to a very large extent with my ( limited ) experience. Thanks,
Mister.