stem allen key bolt cleaning

[adeshere]

Anyone got a magic way to de-rust the head of the allen key bolts that go into the stem ?

[dordymush]

dremmel ?.

[Superkav]

What stem you got, you can get identical bots for quite a few stems from your friendly local hardware store for about 20p each. Nice and shiny and new.

[David]

stainless too

[Superkav]

Thats right. Unless you're a hardcore restorer I'd just buy a new set.

[Jazzchimp]

anywhere online?

[Jazzchimp]

One thing I have done in the past which works well is place the bolt into a hand drill  (on screwdriver mode) and hold a bunch of wire will round it then switch it on (watch your fingers please)

[billstup]

Clean with 3 in 1 oil 

[danny silverstreak]

GET A STEM PAD 

[Moose]

Has anyone tried soaking them in vinegar? I don't know where I heard it, but it's supposed to work

[David]

Vinegar cleaned the green shite off me Mini's fusebox, that was copper mind

Soak the bolts in some dilluted limescale remover for a couple of day's, that WILL work. That's what I do.

Or just buy some rust remover

[Zippy]

I love cleaning up old bits and restoring them to as close the the original condition as possible, however I can also see the chuck it in the bin and buy new side of things as well.

I've got a few bit's and peices being restored by myself at the moment and I'm enjoying doing it but I do at times think it would be easier to just buy a new imaculate set instead.

[Rombloke]

wood bleach mixed in water.....soak the part over night, then gently rub the rust away with a scotch brite cloth to reveal nice new metal.
this is also known as oxcilic acid....i shouldnt really do this link but im gonna have to

http://www.vintagebmx.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=004702

cheers

Dave