Biketouringhobo

I just had a Guy on a Bicycle Touring Group on Facebook to use Sandpaper on my
Front Rim Velocity Cliffhanger 36h 26in MSW Rim
Rear Rim Sun-Ringle Rhyno lite XL 36h 26in Anodized MSW Rim
and I have talked to a guy at Universal cycles in Portland, Oregon told me not to use Sandpaper on my Rim's! and is ok to Scotch Brite Dobie pad with Dawn Soap and water??? and Velocity USA Bike Rim's told me Do Not Use SANDPAPER on my Velocity Cliffhanger 26in MSW Rim's it Void's the Warranty

I had my Kool Stop Salmon Squealing like a PIG on my Front Rim's and
front pad is Toe-in backwards! and
I had Kool Stop Dual compound Black/Salmon did not Squeal like a PIG!
on my Rear Rim!

Biketouringhobo

I am doing my Homework

DrIsotope

When most people talk of Scotch-Brite, they're talking about the green ones you buy at the supermarket. I don't use those for anything, they're too aggressive, along the lines of a Gray "graded" pad-- which is 150 grit paper or #1 steel wool.

I use three grades in my shop: Maroon, Light Gray, and White.

Maroon: ~400 grit paper, similar to #00 wool. (fine)
Light gray: ~800 grit paper, similar to #00 00 wool (super fine)
White: ~1200 grit paper (ultra fine)

I use 800 grit wet to service aluminum brake tracks, and go over them with a White pad. I do not recommend a green consumer pad, you'd be better off with 600 grit or finer sandpaper. And no steel wool, it will inevitably embed steel in the aluminum and you can thus get your aluminum rims to rust.

fietsbob

not Garnet Grit sandpaper thats for Wood. .. wet or dry, that is used for paint prep on metal..

there is industrial 'scotchbrite' with carborundum grit in it I find its brown not green like the household type.
I use it to remove scorched cooking, off my Stainless Frypan

Dawn is a dishwashing soap that has been shown, it takes Oil off Waterfowl & Otters, caught in in Oil spills.

02Giant 

It is very good at removing oil and grease from your hands also.

techsensei

I've used talcum powder to quiet a squeaky brake.

Bike tinker man

Two things you seem to me not have made yourself clear, are you cleaning the brake surface area on the rim, or are you just cleaning the rim generally.
If you are cleaning the rim generally to polish it up, use a good quality metal polish.
If its the brake shoe contact area then it depends how badly marked or scored it is, here yes use as mentioned above use fine grade grit paper.

RandomTroll

I use a power grinder to keep my rims shiny!

Biketouringhobo

A guy from Universal Cycle in Portland, Oregon on the Phone last night Told me do not
use SANDPAPER! on my Bike Rim's and Velocity USA told me the Same Thing
by E-Mail Do not use SANDPAPER! on my Velocity Cliffhanger 26in MSW Rim's
it Vold the Warranty! on my Rim's

I am going to use Scotch Brite Dobie Pads on my Rim's with Dawn Soap and Water on my Rim's to Clean them. and them use Rubbing Alcohol


Biketouringhobo

Biketouringhobo

I was told not to Use Sandpaper by Velocity USA! by E-Mail and a Guy from Universal Cycles in Portland, Oregon last night on the Phone siad the Same Thing do not use Sandpaper! on my Rim's

bradtx

Biketouringhobo, I have used SOS brand non marring pads on some rims, along with hand dish washing soap and water successfully.

Brad

Bike tinker man

There is fine difination of words:-
to my way of understanding sandpaper is for wood regardless of its grade, & emery paper / grit paper is for metal.
The whole issue is how bad are the rims? as mentioned above use very fine if it is required, agreed no Scotchbrite or wire wool.

fietsbob

Carborundum grit is different from Garnet grit , Got It?

Andrew R Stewart 

Surprised that no one has mentioned steel wool yet. We keep s medium grade on our work benches and use it for cables and rims frequently. Andy.

Secret Squirrel

SandFlex Flexible Abrasive Blocks
SandFlex Flexible Abrasive Blocks - Rockler Woodworking Tools

or Mavic Version
Abrasive Rubber | Mavic - United States

or Hozan version
Bicycle Tools | K-140/141 POLISHING PAD

I use the Sandflex fine block. Much cheaper than the other brands.

Bike tinker man

Again a difference in definition I call it wire wool as I mentioned (like Kitchen Brillo pads) you call it steel wool, I assume we are talking about the same thing here, I guess there maybe a commercial version, the ones I use sometimes have no built in soap.

The whole point is how bad are the brake surface area on the rims ?

Looigi

Green kitchen Scotchbrite pads work great cleaning up and removing residue on bare aluminum brake tracks. I'll also clean the braking surface of the pads with abrasive paper/cloth to remove surface contamination and expose a fresh surface. Align pads with a bit toe-in if needed to eliminate squealing.

Riding in the rain often accomplishes the same thing via road grit in the water.

Andrew R Stewart 

The lack of additional soap on hardware store steel wool lends a cleanliness which SOS pads don't have. There are times where only mechanical or only chemical methods are wanted. Andy.

Ronsonic 

I avoid that stuff. It tends to embed shedded bits of steel into whatever you're trying to clean. Later those will rust and stain your aluminum, stainless, wood, whatever work-piece.

I use scotch brite for those jobs.

SkyDog75

Bronze wool is sometimes a good alternative to steel wool. Bronze is softer than steel, so it can scour with less risk of scratching or dulling chrome. And it doesn't shed steel particles that can rust.

Rubato

Also available in bronze.

woodcraft

I use #220 wet/dry sandpaper to clean up alloy brake tracks.

Also:

- Toe in your front PADS.

- Do Not Use APOSTROPHES on your Plurals!

pressed001

I use the the scotch pads on my brake tracks coupled with a good engine degreaser. I used to use alcohol but with the degreaser I barely have to work. Almost no scrubbing necessary.

lol @woodcraft : It's its when it's not it is. And isn't the apostrophe used to otherwise declare ownership? Like, "It is Sam's bus." ?? I was always confused on that issue. Shame on you Biketouringhobo for referring to your "rim's" and not your "rims!"

AndreyT

Steel wool is explicitly mentioned in post #2 .

Andrew R Stewart 

[QUOTE=AndreyT;18773049]Steel wool is explicitly mentioned in post #2 .[/QUOT

You are right. Once again I need to read every post and every word. Andy