Rust Removal (U/D Pulleys)

[95GTV8]

I got some U/D pulleys for free, they have a lil rust on them, i'm just wondering what would be the best way to get this off? it's just surface rust, could i sand it off using sandpaper, if so what grit? Or if anybody else has any other cost effective methods please post. Thanks.

 

[95cobraguy]

light sanding and maybe some steel wool.

 

[95GTV8]

aha! steel wool, i overlooked that. Thanks!

 

[illwood]

After you're done sanding them, find out if there are any metal finishers in the area. They would look pretty good (and be protected better) if you had them coated with "black oxide".

I'm assuming that they are steel U/D pullies and not aluminum because of the rust statement. Otherwise, clean them up and get them anodized.

 

[95GTV8]

allright, i took some scrubbing with the steel wool to get the rust off, i'm bout 60% finished with the 1st one. I'm almost positive they are steel because aluminum doens't rust. That's a very good idea to get them re-finished, do you have any idea how much it would cost me?

 

[illwood]

I'm not exactly sure how much it would cost for a run of black oxide. Usually, when you get a quote on this it is a "batch quote" so that the cost is not per part, but for a set volume of parts. You may want to clean up all of your steel underhood brakets (even just sandblasting) and have them all done at once.

 

[mo_dingo]

allright, i took some scrubbing with the steel wool to get the rust off, i'm bout 60% finished with the 1st one. I'm almost positive they are steel because aluminum doens't rust. That's a very good idea to get them re-finished, do you have any idea how much it would cost me?

You are right, Iron's natural form is Iron Oxide, which it naturally trys to revert to.

CLR works great for getting rust off without having to sand/polish.

Once you get the rust off, spray a primer down, and any color you choose. Then they will look sweet! I would recommend sanding then with at least 600.
Scott

 

[95GTV8]

what is CLR, and that's a great idea, i will primer them, and paint them myself to save some cash, just need to know what CLR is! thank you.

 

[SeventyMach1]

CLR (calcium, lime, rust) cleaner can be found at Lowe's, HD, drug stores, and probably even Wal-Mart. I just used it to eat away some grime in the shower drain.

 

[95GTV8]

allright thanks, i will pick some up after school.

 

[95riosnake]

I would just sand them down with some 220 grit, lay down some primer, then shoot on some silver paint personally.

 

[mo_dingo]

I would just sand them down with some 220 grit, lay down some primer, then shoot on some silver paint personally.

Either way works really. If you have air tools, sanding it with a die grinder would be much faster. 220 is way to rough, it will leave nasty marks in the metal, and necessitate going up to 600 to get the marks out (plus 600 will take the rust out just fine). Don't want a nasty surface to paint on.
Scott

 

[8950HO]

I have an old set of Auto Specialties UD crank + wp pulley`s that were made before they started using the black oxide finish.

I just sanded off the light surface rust and scuffed up the surface with sandpaper,then put masking tape over the pulley grooves and just spray painted them using "Tremco" gloss black rust paint in a spray can.No more surface rust and a cheap fix.

 

[95riosnake]

220 is way to rough, it will leave nasty marks in the metal, and necessitate going up to 600 to get the marks out

I just use filler primer usually, cuz I usually don't have 600 grit layin around.