Polishing stainless steel exhaust boxes?

[RichB]

Chaps, I've just had a splendid new stainless steel twin exhaust fitted to the Aston and I would like to polish the end silencer boxes. The tail pipes are highly polished and very smart they look too but the end boxes are unpolished stainless steel. Because of how they hang under the rear floor of the car they are rather visible and I'd like to get a bit more of a shine on them. I thought about very fine wire wool and Solvol Autosol metal polish but I'm interested to know what others might have used. Thoughts anyone?

I'll attach a pic of my own car when I get a chance but meantime here's a generic shot to give you an idea of how visible the rear silencers are.

[Mr2Mike]

If they are completely unpolished you may have a hard time starting of with a relatively fine polish like autosol. One of the metal polishing kits that contain various bars of polishing soap and buffing wheels for a drill may be a better bet.

[RichB]

Went down to the garage this morning and had a bit of a go with some fine wire wool (not sure what gauge but I used it to polish some furniture so it's that fine) and Solvol Autosol and on the bit I tried it worked a treat.

[valet magic]

Autosol would be my first port of call along with a couple of hours.

Here is a detailed breakdown of cleaning an old Aston if your interested.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Robbie

[Auto finesse]

Id look at some thing like this http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatalog/Polishi... you can get some that go on a drill its not as good as having a bench mount but then you would have to drop the lot off and it would be a bit of a long winded job, so id personally get a drill mount set and go from there, take a bit of time and then seal them up (as best possible) with a metal sealant.

[RichB]

Auto finesse said:

...seal them up (as best possible) with a metal sealant.

OK thanks, I'm happy I can polish them up now tell me about metal sealant? Never heard of this...

[Auto finesse]

Metal sealants are pretty good, you wont get the kind of durability out of a metal sealant you would out of a paint sealant but its better than no protection at all, id recommend this product http://polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/blackfire-wet-...

No point spending all that time polishing it up and leaving it bare, this will help prolong the effects of weathering and should make it easier for you to keep them looking good.

After that id recommend the Meguiars NXT all metal polish as a method of keeping them clean and to keep up the high polished appearance, then reapply the sealant,

You should only need to do the major polishing once, then just keep on top with that and the sealant every once in a while.

HTH

James B

(please note i have no affiliation to the linked company, its the only place in the uk you can buy the blackfire range hence the link)

Edited by Auto finesse on Friday 13th November 22:04

Edited by Auto finesse on Friday 13th November 22:08

[RichB]

Auto finesse said:

HTH

Thanks James, never come across this concept, at £20+ it's not an impulse buy but very interesting.

[Auto finesse]

Fully understand, but i can vouch for the Blackfire range, none of there products disappoint.

There are other metal sealants on the market a bit cheaper but it would be the risk you take.

Brite max one here http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Britemax_Fin... i have not personally used that product but iv seen a few guys on detailing forums etc using it and stating its a good product.

[Miracle]

Auto finesse said:

Fully understand, but i can vouch for the Blackfire range, none of there products disappoint.

There are other metal sealants on the market a bit cheaper but it would be the risk you take.

Brite max one here http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Britemax_Fin... i have not personally used that product but iv seen a few guys on detailing forums etc using it and stating its a good product.

Brite max is what I am currently using, and its very very good.