Guess what I'm polishing now!

[1tinindian]

I just couldn't wait any longer...only 3 more to go!

[jvb_ca]

Great job.  They come up nice don't they? They will turn a beautiful bronze color after a few miles of hard riding.

Cheers...Jake

[Pat Conlon]

Wow! None of this steel wool, satin finish for you.
A real deep luster polish job on hard stainless steel, that's impressive.
Whatcha using, how are you doing it?

Here's a tip: What Jake said is true, these pipes will turn a light golden brown as they heat cure, so don't freak out....
However, after you install these beauties, before you heat them up, take some fast evaporating lacquer thinner or alcohol and with a clean rag, wipe down the pipes......Do it twice......
That way the oil from your fingers won't burn into the finish when the pipes heat up. i.e You WILL see your fingerprints on the finish if you don't do this..

A lesson learned the hard way....

Cheers amigo!

[racerman_27410]

Looking good 

green scotchbrite pads will help in maintaining that nice finish and PLus 1 on Pat's advice about cleaning them good before first running to prevent unwanted staining


KOokaloo!

Frank

[jvb_ca]

This is what they will look like after a few miles.



Good idea on the scotchbrite Frank. I never did go over them after the first polishing. I liked the way they went dark. My new to me Supertrapp is starting to turn a light bronze now.

Cheers...Jake

[TRoy]

take some fast evaporating lacquer thinner or alcohol and with a clean rag, wipe down the pipes......Do it twice......
That way the oil from your fingers won't burn into the finish when the pipes heat up. i.e You WILL see your fingerprints on the finish if you don't do this..

A lesson learned the hard way....

...also, if you use armor-all on or near your bike, keep it far away from the pipes, even just the overspray leaves nasty stains on the SS.

looks good!

[1tinindian]

Jake, thanks, I was already aware of the coloring of the pipes from seeing it on my sons Honda 919 that we polished earlier this summer!

Pat, here are my impliments of destruction!


I started with 320 grit on a DA sander to remove the paint and smooth the pipes. then hand sanded with the 320 to remove swirls in the metal.
Then I started the polishing with the die grinder.
Later tonight I plan on working on the other pipes and I think I will sand the pipes with some 500 grit before polishing begins.

Frank, after the time it takes to polish these to a high gloss, I won't be using a scotchbrite pad on these.
I will repolish then before that, Thanks !

TRoy, thanks for the tip!


After I get these all done and back on the bike, I will give them one last going over with some SimiChrome paste.

[racerman_27410]

.
Frank, after the time it takes to polish these to a high gloss, I won't be using a scotchbrite pad on these.
I will repolish then before that, Thanks !

MY EYES........


lol it's all good.... i prefer the satin finish to the high gloss seeing as i dont have enough time (or OCD) to keep it looking that way.

...for a satin finish the scotchtbrite pad does work great (and fast) for cleanup   

KOokaloo!

[JCainFJ]

 WOW! I sure am glad this turned out to be about shining up an exhaust system. Just for a split second it sounded like....... er......mmmmmm....... something ealse.   
I like my FJ's, but not that much!

[lawson]

NICE JOB!  They will go to a bronze color once run.   But if you want to keep them a light gold or remain chromish - once your done polishing, mask or wrap entire outside of pipe and spray WHITE Header paint into inside of tubes.  Point spraycan nozzle into tube and just spray the shit out of them to where the paint is running down inside of pipe and then flip pipe around so all areas get coated.  Let it tack up and repeat again and again and again.  You are trying to build up layers.   This is how you keep chrome plated headers from going "Blue".   Also since one thing leads to another.  If you want to paint engine - mask off easy areas with masking tape - but for the odd shape parts - mask them by wrapping them with aluminum foil.   Take the sheet of foil ,fold it over itself so it is now 2 layer thick , press it against object then squeeze it.  It will now take the shape of part and add masking tape on ends for a sharp edge.  DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IF MASKING AROUND WIRING.

[andyb]

WOW! I sure am glad this turned out to be about shining up an exhaust system. Just for a split second it sounded like....... er......mmmmmm....... something ealse.   
I like my FJ's, but not that much!

I'm with you, man.  There for a minute I thought someone was going to be too happy about their bike..

[Arnie]

1tinindian said,
" Frank, after the time it takes to polish these to a high gloss, I won't be using a scotchbrite pad on these.  I will repolish then before that, Thanks ! "

You could also go to a jewelery findings/supply store and get a "rouge cloth".  These are generally a two part flannel like cloth with one layer plain and the other impregnated with fine rouge.  Jewelers use them as a final step and to keep the stock shiny.  Should be under $5 or so.

Cheers,
Arnie   

[rlucas]

Naaaaah...get a rouge stick and a rag wheel, or a rouge wheel. Let the drill do the work.

Dad used to have a two-piece rouge cloth for polishing his old Army insignia (I still have it
). I tried to use it on my 1907 E.E. Smith trumpet...big PITA.

Rossi

[1tinindian]

Arnie, that sound similar to a product called "Neverdull", polishing cotton wad.
Works well, but I likes my SimiChrome!

Rossi, did you miss the picture of the tools I use?

I've been polishing bare metal for over 30 years and have used many different product, andd I seem to have found what works the best for my needs.


UPDATE, I polished the second pipe lastnight and wet sanded it with 500 grit prior to polishing, and it came out so good, I redid the first one!...OCD.

I now have two pipes remounted on the bike and the other two sanded.
Will post more pictures tonight.

[andyb]

Arnie, that sound similar to a product called "Neverdull", polishing cotton wad.
Works well, but I likes my SimiChrome!

You are doing really pretty work.  I was a simichrome fan, but then I found something that works a lot, LOT better (at least, on soft metals like aluminum, platinum, and titanium).  It's called Blue Magic, I got a can at autozone for $8 or so.  Does much better than simichrome at providing that final mirror effect, just keep working it in.  Is now what I use on the wheels/frame/arm on my ZX9.