Pipe polishing (ohh err....)

[Hollywood Wheels]

What are people using to polish their exhaust tips when they look like they've seen better days? Any 'tricks of the trade' for a good-as-new finish, particularly when they are very dirty?

Also, what sort of life would one expect from a Janspeed factory 'zorst on an S1? Many thanks...

HW

[PJLarge]

Wire wool works a treat. You can also use alloy wheel cleaner to remove soot, but it'll be back in no time. Autosol will give a good final finish, but it's not really worth the effort.

Phil.

[Hollywood Wheels]

Cheers PJ, but does wire wool not scratch it all up? Will have to give it a go IF i eventually get my car (see associated thread on Seloc!!!)

[gooby]

The best thing for polishing up the chrome finish on most pipes is a good automotive or marine non abrasive metal polish and a lot of elbow grease. Autoglum is very good and the new zymol metal polish is ment to be incredible.

Ihave a stage 1 zorst which has a stainless steel finish and that was so bad I took the dremel to it. Looks OK now!

When you have got a decent finish it is reasonably easy to maintain.

[mark82]

Clean with wire wool or scotch bright, polish with autosol chrome if you can be arsed, if not use t-cut, nearly as good with less effort. Then cleran off the excess polish with wd40, making sure there's a film on it, that way the soot won't stick and the tips won't tarnish, they'll just turn golden with the heat....

[gooby]

mark82 said:

Then cleran off the excess polish with wd40, making sure there's a film on it, that way the soot won't stick and the tips won't tarnish, they'll just turn golden with the heat....

[piooly]

T-Cut works great !

[S works]

The Janspeed on the S160 is mild steel. It will die soon, if the baffles aren't on their way already. S/S large bore version is a great replacement - mine was done a few weeks ago and the pick-up ans power difference is noticeable. Made an awesome car even better.

[Mr_C]

you don't really polish your exhaust pipes, do you?

*looks at soot covered mess that was once a shiney Larini...*