- Aluminum foil (crushed lightly and dipped in water) is the best method for cleaning chrome: cheaper, faster, less abrasive than steel wool, and recyclable. Just wear gloves, wipe the brown drips off promptly with a thick, clean, cotton rag, and polish lightly with oil.
- Stuck seatposts usually are due to a missing -- or old, ineffective grease barrier between the steel tube and aluminum post. If you do not try to loosen it by flooding it with oil products first, there is a much better chance that the ammonia soaking trick will work, since it will be able to seep into the spaces where oil would have already sealed the less viscous ammonia away from contact. Be sure to fill the post to overflowing, and give it at least a few days to sit.
Looking forward to other contributions here!
Peace,
Jim
Jim Sheehan
Executive Director
Ohio City Bicycle Co-op
1779 Merwin St