BBS Bolts Cleaning/Polishing

[simonm11]

hey folks, anyone here with experience in restoring BBS hardware, i've been using the Dremel with a combination of wire wheels, polishing wheels etc. but after 136 bolts and nuts my fingers are destroyed, i've done multiple sets of wheels using this method and i just cant do this to my hands anymore, so i was wondering if anyone has used a better easier faster method such as a tumbler? any ideas?
thanks in advance!

[Mike W.]

No idea but I'll piggyback on. I've got some wheels with socket/allen heads with light rust both in the socket head and on the outside. Suggestions?

[stuartinmn]

No idea but I'll piggyback on. I've got some wheels with socket/allen heads with light rust both in the socket head and on the outside. Suggestions?

For that I'd suggest soaking them in Evaporust or some similar product. If they're still on the wheel you can probably do it by soaking a paper towel in the Evaporust and wrapping it around the bolt head.

[simonm11]

No idea but I'll piggyback on. I've got some wheels with socket/allen heads with light rust both in the socket head and on the outside. Suggestions?

For that I'd suggest soaking them in Evaporust or some similar product. If they're still on the wheel you can probably do it by soaking a paper towel in the Evaporust and wrapping it around the bolt head.

Problem with this solution is that will remove the coating on the bolts which will lead to even more rust in no time.

[demetk]

Maybe a vibrating tumbler?

[tig]

I had very good success having mine plated ("clear") by Arrow Plating of Ft Worth TX.

I had it done as a much bigger plating job so I can't tell you how much it cost me, but they are very affordable.

[stuartinmn]

Problem with this solution is that will remove the coating on the bolts which will lead to even more rust in no time.

If there's rust, the coating is already gone underneath it. You'd have to put paint or something back on to protect them anyway.

[Mike W.]

Problem with this solution is that will remove the coating on the bolts which will lead to even more rust in no time.

If there's rust, the coating is already gone underneath it. You'd have to put paint or something back on to protect them anyway.

Rust and chrome can be funny. I've cleaned up wheels, chrome plated steel obviously, with lots of cosmetic surface rust. Good old Dupont #7 Chrome polish, which is either no longer available or made by a different company or both. But a dramatic cleanup. But bolts are trickier and I don't know if whatever made it work so well is still in it or another product. But night and day change with a modest amount of work.

[simonm11]

Maybe a vibrating tumbler?

this is what im leaning to, but i dont know anything about these things, there are multiple kinds and tons of different Media. so confusing. dont want to invest on something that will not serve any purpose.

[demetk]

You should start off with the green plastic media. It should work well for removing rust but not sure if it will lodge into the threads. I've read that finishing off with walnut media will clean up the threads.

[a]

Dish washer ?

[Mike W.]

Dish washer ?

I'm married. I want to stay that way, so no.

[gadget73]

Problem with this solution is that will remove the coating on the bolts which will lead to even more rust in no time.

If there's rust, the coating is already gone underneath it. You'd have to put paint or something back on to protect them anyway.

very true. I've soaked chrome sockets in Evaporust before and the chrome was never bothered. The rust turns dark grey or black though. Never tried chrome bolts or lug nuts but I would expect the same result.

[Ken H.]

Maybe a vibrating tumbler?
This.

Use a Lyman brass cartridge tumbler (available @ Cabela's).
These machines will easily hold ~200 BBS bolts w/ nuts.
Run w/ fresh walnut shell media for 24-36 hours, this to address caked-on rust, crud, corrosion.

I've done this with badly corroded range pickup brass and the results while not factory new, were really good. Runs w/ the brass typically took overnight.

FWIW, this selfsame Lyman vibrator has been used to clean up any number of smaller steel and aluminum parts. Result is a very fine matte finish; as far as I can tell, zero dimensional alterations. For best results, scrape off any residual gasket material or gross hardened grease, etc.

[86GT635]

My favorite way of cleaning rust off of chrome parts, or really any steel parts is to use oxalic acid. I learned of it a few years back while cleaning up old motorcycle chrome. A lot of bicycle people use it too. It will remove the rust and won't blacken the steel. Needs to be treated soon after though. I would think if you installed your previously rusty bolts and then clear coated you could have some good results. Look up "oxalic acid BMX"

[wkohler]

Best way to remove rust from bolts is Evapo-Rust, hands down. Best place to buy that is Harbor Freight with the 20% off coupons.

I had a couple sets of RS bolts OZ bolts plated. I tried to buy as many as I could to get the cost per bolt down since there are minimum charges for everything but people were dickheads and liars on the stance works and sent me rusty and stripped bolts that were useless so I wasted a lot of money. Got great responses like "well I wouldn't have sold them if they were usable." Gee, thanks.

I think they came out really well, though.