Any suggestions on rusting shiny stuff to match bike?

[mickeyc]

I have a pair of wheels (28" ers) that I'd like to match to the bike but they are too shiny. Any suggestions, short of leaving them out side for 90 years (the bike is a '26 Westfield)? The wheels are newer CCM (Canadian) wheels, all steel. No way I could afford a set of wood clad ones.
Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

[fordmike65]

Leave parts in the yard for a few weeks & let the sprinklers take care of it.

 

[gtdohn]

Does that work with nickel?

 

[larock65]

Also spray it with some salt water.

 

[higgens]

Spray bleach and vinegar on em

 

[rocketman]

Like mentioned, mix up some salt water. Works gooooooooood..........................

 

[stezell]

I use hydrogen peroxide and salt mixed.

 

[bairdco]

Ditto the hydrogen and salt method. you'll need to scuff up the shiny chrome or nickel plating first.

Then half fill a spray bottle with HP, add 3-4 tablespoons of salt (doesn't have to be precise,) then spray it on and watch it rust. if it's not as rusty as you want, just spray it again.

Keeping it wetted down is the key.

If you don't scuff up the chrome, it'll only rust where it's scratched, unless it's crappy chrome, but it'll take longer.

A sandblasted part will rust in seconds.

 

[rustjunkie]

you'll need to scuff up the shiny chrome or nickel plating first.

...

Was just gonna say that, sometimes a good scuffing with a scotchbrite pad will knock enough of the shiny down to take the edge off

 

[pikljoose]

Sometimes a nickel part is too rusty to blend, be serviceable or appealing.

I will remove all rust with evaporust. This strips it back to bare, blue steel.

Then I'll add just a little rust peppering back onto piece with peroxide/salt method.

This blends well with the other patina nickel parts on a bike.

Stem and rat trap pedals are done this way.