Hi,

I have a few old bike chains that I have collected rather then throwing them away when they are out of tollerance over the last 12 months and I want to have a go at making some of these bike chain ornaments for a few friends.

For anyone who doesn't know what i'm on about its basically bike chain formed into shapes by sticking a tack weld on each link.

i need to be able to clean then thoroughly though for 3 reasons, 1, to help with getting a decent tack weld and 2, so they don't stink of bike lube and residue when they are completed and 3 so I can get spray lacquer to stick to it to stop it rusting once completed.

Any ideas of what to use or places to take them to get them professionally done, I'd prefer they dont sting of cleaning products afterwords either if possible!

Cheers
Col

Ultrasonic cleaner with brasso in water solution, then off the wife's oven for an hour.

small coke bottle filled with your petrol or your degreaser of choice - feed the chain through the neck, lid on and shake like buggery for a while. Cut the bottle open to get it out as its all tangled and then dry somewhere hot before it rusts

Ornaments from discarded bike chains? Always thought the only use for junked bike chains was turn them into knuckle dusters!

As per Luke's method works well for me.