Try our new info resource - "Aladdin's Cave" (Main menu)Just added a separate link to Ash's Dropbox thread (shortcut)
looking better now looking at your pillar drill is it made in swadlincote by o bryans i think they called it fobco ?
You do know wire wool works best when lubed with a bit of diesel or petroleum?
"I grant you that the wire wool has done a good job with the rust, but how durable is the result? Will it come out in a rash of rust spots after being out in the rain?"Good question. It's one of those things that generally is not looked at very closely. The chrome doesn't rust, chromium being the significant element making steel "stainless" when alloyed with steel.The visible rust is the steel structure material corrosion coming out through pores in the chrome plate. In effect not curable, but rub it off and keep just a little oil on it, and it'll stay reasonably good but difficult with hot exhaust. As I understand it, really good protective chrome would use nickel and copper "undercoat" with decorative chrome to finish, effectively making impermeable barrier to the base steel rusting. Think all chrome of this era ultimately needs coating with oil to preserve it as it's more decorative than long term protection.
Mine has never had a front stay.