Help cleaning an old Healing

[jhea57]

Hi
I recently purchased this beautiful old healing track bike from the early 50's.
it was all there and totally original
I have pulled all the bits off the frame and would now like to clean it as much as possible with the aim to give it a clear coat just to preserve the patina...
the frame is very dirty, grimmy, greasy and scratched as you would expect with about 60 years of use but I am sure if I could get the frame clean without to much damage to the paintwork.
anyway I had thought of just using a degreaser with some very fine steelwool but I do not want to damage the paint work
I have also heard that oxalic acid will take off all the rust grime but is gentle to the paintwork...has anyone used this method.

any handy hints are appreciated....

cheers jhea57

[Wal42]

Try Inox or similar penetrative sprays (they shouldn't damage the paint) or white spirit (prepsol, auto wax grease remover), it is designed to remove stuff from paint without damaging it, it's going to come down to lots of elbow grease.

[Clydesdale Scot]

put the steel wool away and have a look at these two threads
Richard's Victory and
my Bullock

[LG]

+1 for Wal. Oxalic acid is good for chrome parts etc that can be submerged for a period, but I can't imagine it being a viable option for a frame.