My Blackbird came to me with pitted forks and ugly alloys..does anyone know of a cheap way of improving the look of not only my alloys but my forks....many thanks!                                                                                                                                                                              

Scotch bright pads or fine wire wool and Solvol Autosul should do the trick with plenty of elbow grease

72
                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks knew there would be a cheaper way instead of sending them off to be professionally done..thanks I72

                                                                                                                                                                             

Well, I assume you're talking about the fork sliders (aluminium) if the stanchions are pitted then it's either new or refurb professionally as you'll just go through fork seals at an alarming rate otherwise.

If you know someone local with a lathe they may be able to spin the sliders and polish them that way with a little care.

72

Do as I72 has said then take them in and have a final polish and clear coat or you will be forever trying to keep them shiny
                                                                                                                                                                             

They all do that,mine certainly have.doesn't go any slower for the scabby fork lowers so I'm leaving them for now.                                                                                                                                                                              

thanks everyone for your helpful advice ...much appreciated!

                                                                                                                                                                             

Hi ... have had this problem on several bikes over the years, and on one bike I went to all the trouble of dismantling the forks to have the tubes shot blasted and powder coated, but it is a lot of work, and not cheap.

In more recent times I chose to do something about it myself, I used a wire brush wheel attached to an electric drill to remove all the old paint and it actually cleans the alloy surface very well, you need to take care near the fork seal though.

Once complete, clean the surface with 0000 wire wool and then white spirit, allow to fully dry. Then use some self etching primer and allow to dry for atleast 6 hrs, then gently key the surface with 0000 wire wool, before applying another coat of self etch primer. Finally, another gentle rub with the wire wool, before applying the paint of choice.

The paint I chose to use was black smoothrite, this paint contains glass powder, makes it very hard if you cure it correctly. I used an old convection heater and hung the fork tubes over it to dry.

Wire brush in a drill on alloy ? Bit harsh put more scratches in than your trying to get out. Then have the long job of trying to polish them out with 1000 grit paper                                                                                                                                                                              

ok people this is what you need for your forks   and I would get two one for each leg and do it dry goggles are a must  http://www.metalpolishingsupplies.co.uk/dome-metal-sand...heel-50mm/    this is what I use                      then T-cut with the dome polishing mop {get min 2 per leg }                     then solvo   dome mop                     then a good wax  by hand with rag                             look at my results  {on profile } the t-cut I poorer into a cup and use the next day when its gone thicker  I wipe it on the fork leg then away with the mop       when you think its shiny do it again   have fun                                                                                                                                                                                

Thanks!!                                                                                                                                                                              

You could use a copper wire brush in the drill. I think Ally is harder than the copper, I've used a hand held copper wire brush and have had some good results on tarnished alloy.                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks Bluey

got to wait for better weather..got to do it on my driveway....snow and ice and heavy rain isnt good for that sort of job at the moment!!                                                                                                                                                                             

makes it exiting with elecy drill