I got this free old racing bike from the '50s awhile back and I'm finally getting around to turning it into a glow bike. The only problem is that it's caked in rust.  When I mean caked on, I mean like a double coating of butter-cream frosting on a chocolate sheet cake, it's just to much. The rims are suppose to be silver, but they're literally brown.  I took some steel wool to the rims and got some of the "thinner" rusted areas clean, I just can't seem to get the "thick" rusted areas clean.  I don't want to throw out the bike because it was free and I'm a cheap.  

     Is there a chemical I can put on the rust to help remove it?  Or is a little more elbow grease needed?  Also, how do you remove old chipping chrome without slicing up your hands?  One last question, how do you remove old paint?

 

     

Wire wheel unless you have access to a sand blaster. Just be carefully it's not rotted threw.

Angle grinder with a wire wheel will remove the paint and the rust. A angle grinder with a tiger paw will knock it off too. Using a buffing wheel will aid in polishing it all up and cleaning the rust from the wheels. A band file with different sand paper grits will remove rust, paint, chrome and probably clean up the wheels too. Band files are not expensive. Harbor Freight has them for about 10 dollars.

I agree with what has all ready been said. I have done a lot of rust removal in my life. It is one of the reasons why I no longer do auto body. I hate rust with a passion. If ans when you buy a wire wheel. Do not go over board with the cost. A wire wheel is a wire wheel. You do not need any thing special. Just a plan wire wheel that you can buy at any farm store, hardware store.

 

I find it funny you also are doing rust removal. I have a little utility trailer that I have to clean. I have to remove the rust and paint. Before I am going to paint it. The only difference between mine and your project. Is the size of the tools. I am using a 6in Milwaukee tools grinder/buffer. That for this job. It i will be a 6in wire wheel. Because I was using it as a buffer when I did auto body. I got the nick name of Thor. I post a pic of it tomorrow.

Be sure to wear safety glasses when using a wire wheel

Sand blasting is really the best way to go, it will get into all those little areas the wheel will miss, and if an area is rotted through I wanna know now, not after I've painted and assembled it or when I'm riding it

Sand blasting is really the best way to go, it will get into all those little areas the wheel will miss, and if an area is rotted through I wanna know now, not after I've painted and assembled it or when I'm riding it

 

I agree. You probably can do it manually, but I doubt it will cost but a few dollars to have someone blast it and then you have a nice clean finish ready for paint. I respect cheap BTW.

show us a before picture of it now with all the rust, then show us an after pic post rust, then a final finished pic when youre done completely

show us a before picture of it now with all the rust, then show us an after pic post rust, then a final finished pic when youre done completely

 

 

     I'd post a pic of this rusty piece of crap, but I can't upload anything... First, I don't have a phone with those abilities and, secondly,  I don't know how to upload a picture or resize it.  I'm not very tech savvy... 

Try Coca Cola or Carbonic Water.

Depending on how big it is. There is a way to remove it with water and I think baking soda. It is very similar to electroplating. If you can find a big enough item to hold what ever you need to dunk. You can do it your self.