Component and Kit Refurbish Question?

[abailcb]

I've seen a lot of impressive work done cleaning up and reconditioning on all kinds of kit and components, but though I've searched, can't seem to find any real detail on methods and materials used to get to those results. Frankly, some of the before and after pics are hard to believe, and I'd love to be able to get some tips and tricks ......

Is there already a thread out there that covers, or better yet, shows some how-to repairs? If not, would anyone like to offer methods for cosmetic restoration of drivetrain compponentry and other kit/components?

Any thoughts on the matter are welcome....

Thanks

 

[dyna-ti]

Any particular component you were thinking of :? If its cranks and theyre plain alloy then just metal polish and a cloth[not steel wool]will bring remarkable results

Steel wool would be used after wet&dry sand paper and before just an ordinary cloth.If there are fine scratches these would be taken out using steel wool or if quite bad wet&dry.Then wool then cloth
I use autosol with the wool or the cloth but not the wet&dry,that as its name suggests is best used wet
This is Autosol.Its a very fine burnishing cream.
https://autosol.com/

 

[NeilM]

This is a topic which interests me.

Metal polishing and refinishing I'm fine with, but what paints do people use to restore Shimano components?

 

[REKIBorter]

The bike FAQ section is always a good place to start.

 

[Jussa]

The bike FAQ section is always a good place to start.

I've been looking for some good advice on this also, sadly there is not much listed in the following;

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewfo ... e647a330ac

 

[dyna-ti]

No offence to anybody but we're not talking rocket science here You can polish your shoes than its very much the same thing.
As to complete renovations,best if theres an idea as to which part youre renovating as everything might have different methods.But for general polishing theres really nothing to it

 

[REKIBorter]

As said ^^ it's not rocket science. Patience, ingenuity and elbow grease are the key ingredients. I find black permanent marker pens very helpful.

 

[minor_LEGEND]

I think tackling stuff logically is the key. If a particular component or bunch of parts need the same attention it is best to treat as a batch & maybe consider for example powder coating or re-anodizing in one hit.
Likewise being prepared to tackle such a job with the correct materials or tools is also important, deciding to have a stab on the spur-of the-moment will not yield great results using just to-hand kitchen utensils, wheras having a supply of cotton buds, degreaser, fine wet & dry, various polishes, cloths & lubes & thread-lock for re-assembly etc etc will mean you are less likely to bodge things.

This is very much an open ended subject that I'd love to read more on. The tip for using tin foil on plated parts was very impressive. Theres a thread in the BMX forums by a guy that derusted some chrome forks, awesome results on forks that looked ready for the bin.