One of the things I've done when working on the plane is to put the axel on blocks to keep the fuselage from rolling around and storing the wheels to the side. Unfortunately, I put them where they could get wet. The left wheel in particular took the brunt of it...



Ug. That's just terrible! The rust is surface stuff, but there's absolutely no reason to leave it there.

The wife and I got into a conversation on how to remove it. She suggested gasoline or kerosene and a wire brush and some fine steel wool. Nope, not for my money - I'm not keen to pour gasoline all over the place, particularly since I like to take smoke breaks while working on stuff.

They make a lot of products for removing rust from chrome, but my favorite Alabama solution from my youth when cars still had chrome on them was Coke-Cola and aluminum foil. One pours the Coke onto the rust and rubs it with the aluminum foil (I always used shiny side down).

It turns into a dark gray kind of paste as it comes up:



Then rinse and wipe away with water and a damp rag as one goes until all the rust is gone...



I did use a soft wire brush in a few places where the spokes go into the rim.

The other wheel was only spotted here and there with rust and went really fast.

What other "field expedient" fixes do y'all know, like removing duct tape adhesive with lighter fluid?

That is very cool. Was it a lot of work? I'd typically just use 3-in-1 oil, but white vinegar works too (probably in a way similar to the Coke).

Is the aluminum vital or could you use, say, steel whool or a rag?

edit: Oh, and other field expedient quick fixes, um....

Oxyclean is good for removing "physical evidence."

That "Orange Chronic" air freshener the potheads use works wonders for deterring cats from certain locations.

Damn... that's all I can think of. These days I tend to buy products specifically designed for what I need to do, even though there is likely a cheaper household alternative (like vinegar for scaling instead of Limeaway).

About forty five minutes total for the bad one, about ten minutes for the one with just some spots on it.

I don't know if anything other than tin foil will work; we always used it so that's what I used!

3M 777 adhesive can be made unsticky with Scotchguard....and when the Scotchguard dries, the 777 will become adhesive again!

Oven cleaner to clean wood and prepare it for refinishing, such as rifle stocks. You would think it was too harsh, but it isn't.

You can remove decals from vehicles, such as old company signage, with peanut butter. The oil makes the adhesive turn loose.

When degreasing small parts, ether (starting fluid) works very well and leaves no residue. Just don't smoke while you're using it!

Panty hose works well for removing bugs from grilles and bumpers without damaging the paint or finish.

Nice job on the wheels. Have always heard of it but never have seen it.

I use white toothpaste to remove the oxidation off my vans headlight covers. If it's good enough to take scratches off of CD and DVD (which I also do) it's good enough to polish the headlights.

I've been thinking about whether aluminum foil is required, and I think it is. Digging waaayyyy deep into my Chemistry classes (think parachute pants era), I think what's happening is this:

Fe3O4 (rust) with a catalyst of phosphoric acid (Coke) + Al = Fe + AlO3 (Aluminum Oxide). The Aluminum is stripping the oxygen off of the iron; this seems to be the case since what is produced looks like aluminum oxide darkened by the iron. The iron is in solution.

The chrome isn't effected because the chromium bond with the iron is stronger than the iron is with the oxygen of the rust. It's chemical more than physical removal as the rust came out of pits and the lettering of the logo on the wheel. So long as fresh aluminum atoms are contacting the rust it'll keep on going.

I don't know if it's anything special, but I still use Coke for battery corrosion.

For cleaning plastic, vinyl even leather, particularly in cars, for restoring pieces, I use that Mr Clean Magic Eraser.
A few years ago I got a car and it was in DIRE need of clean up in the interior. Leather seats, vinyl door panels, plastic pieces here and there....they had deep in the groove dirt. It wasn't noticeable unless you looked VERY close, or with a magnifying glass. The texture groove recesses would not get clean, even with top end cleaning sprays, sponge...whatever. I tried the Magic Sponge and it came right out. Restored the original color to the car, it was amazing. I wouldn't use it for regular cleaning, but these things are amazing. Around the house too, just try it.

Before (but AFTER all other product attempts) and after the Magic Eraser pics:

Are those the actual wheels for the plane or is it just a dummy axle t move it around with ? Just wondering because wouldn't it be easier to have a full alloy rim for ease of cleaning/no rust/plus alloy once polished looks better..or are they too light and not as strong ?

That is pretty cool Dart and don't think I have ever come across it before. Scary that we consume that stuff.

Magic Eraser is an amazing product that I keep finding uses for. I owe my wife for finding that one.

Nope, those 20" spoke wheels are what go on the aircraft. Full alloy wheels are expensive and heavy! Composite wheels shatter when they fail versus bending.

If the foam on a TIR PRO clip has lost its elasticity and won't hold firm to a headset any more, place a cigarette butt in the concave part of the foam for a quick and firm reinforcement.

Ah, that reminds me from my youth, old nylon stockings
(this predates panty hose) were the standard material
for filtering gas/oil fuel for two stroke engines.

WD-40 & Duct tape fixes everything

SD

if it moves and it should not - use Duct tape......if it does not move and it should - use WD40

Coke will also remove the smell of jet fuel from your laundry. Add 12oz along with laundry soap, and let washer run a normal cycle. No more jet fuel smell.

MAN I wish I'd known that about 10 years ago.

Apple cider vinegar will remove cat urine smell from clothes. Add a cup or two to the laundry. I wish I didn't have to know that one.
Stupid cat.

Smelly kitchen sink? Toss a whole lemon in the disposal and let it run.

Lots of weird smells around here.

Water will remove dirt.

Try it and see.




The Jedi Master

But not red clay. If red clay gets onto something you'll need to scrub a bit. And any discoloration from red clay is pretty much there to stay.

I once "fixed" a portion of a "popcorn" ceiling that had a section fall out with some 777 spray adhesive, lint collected from the dryer and made into small balls, and some Kiltz white spray paint. Seamless.