robocam

I just bought a used Type S exhaust system, and the tips have something on them that I cannot remove with Eagle One Nevr Dull. I tried using a Dremel polishing kit but it put all kinds of uneven marks on the metal (good thing I only tested it on a small spot on the bottom). While it made the metal super smooth, it doesn't look the way I expected it to.

How do you polish metal to make it look like it's chrome-plated? Is there something I can just buy from Walmart? I was thinking about getting one of those drill-powered Meguiars foam cones and using one of their metal polishes. I assume I need an abrasive polish?




I also have a random orbital polisher I can try.

Nick216

Barkeepers friend?

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

^^^ Yes, this.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Check out this awesome thread!!

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/just-reminder-fellow-members-826970/

robocam

Thanks. Now I have to figure out how to get rid of those holograms I made. I guess I'll just give up the idea of making the tips shine like chrome.

tjl_48

I used Brillo Pads and then some chrome polish. It worked wonders on my exhaust tips.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

I've been using chrome cleaner and a microfiber towel. I've used this stuff since boot camp and it never fails to make metal shiny.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

a dremel polishing kit is too rough to make it shine. it's like using 2000 grit sandpaper on paint to color sand. it'll feel smooth but it'll be far from shiny. you'd need to finish it off with a buffer, or in your case, a polishing compound like barkeepers friend. i havent tried it myself but i hear its good

bp_spets

Ultra-fine steel wool would work as well. You could also pick up a power buffer like the Griot's Garage 3" buffer if you don't mind spending some money, and using a polishing compound.

Jesstzn

Polishing Stainless is a lot different than polishing paint or aluminum. Its a lot harder. All the above will clean it great but I have never had luck polishing it with the conventional stuff we have.

Utube has a few good vids.

bp_spets

Here's what I used:



before:



after:

350

iTrader: (4)

I'd probably try a Mothers Powerball with an aggressive polish, haven't bothered on the TL since it's my daily and stays pretty dirty.

Grand_hustle17

Mother chrome cleaner

runutsooh

thanks for the post, my tips on my type s are almost all black. and I tried scrubbing them with different things but didn't want to mess them up so I just stopped, I am deff gonna be doing this this weekend.

splew

If the tips are really bad and have stuff built up on them, you usually have to wet sand and then polish.

My tips were pretty ratty when I got my car. I wet sanded them with 2000 grit sandpaper, and then used 3M cutting compound, machine polish and finally Mother's metal polish. They turned out nice and mirror shiny.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

I just looked at my exhaust tips today.

Some spots have tarnished around the tips.
Although bar keeper's friend works great, I don't think it will remove the tarnish.
Maybe it's because I used a microfiber cloth and it's too soft to remove the tarnish.

robocam

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. The holograms were bothering me so much that I went out and bought the Meguiars Wheel Polishing Kit from Walmart last night. There's no way I was going to hand rub those marks out of the tips, so I wanted something powered. I bought BKF too, but the label said to rinse it off afterwards, and it was raining outside.



On the left are the tips after I tried Eagle One Nevr Dull, and on the right are the tips after I used the Meguiars kit. I must say that I am extremely happy with the results of the Meguiars Wheel Polishing Kit. I wasn't sure if it would be abrasive enough to remove the holograms, but it did to my satisfaction (the hologram marks aren't shown in the photos - they were on the other side of one of the tips).





Here (below) are the tips almost done. I also hand-rubbed some Meguiars Metal Finishing Polish on them, and used a rotary tool (Black and Decker RTX) with a Dremel 1/2" felt wheel with the Meguiars Metal Finishing Polish to remove the carbon deposits. Those deposits were extremely difficult to remove, but with some time and several felt wheels, they came off, and the Meguiars polish left a brilliant shine. Now I have to figure out how to polish the area between the tips (maybe I'll use a microfiber cloth and a rope), and then I'll paint everything else with high-temperature black paint.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Impressive. Nice job!

splew

Looks great!

nunyab!dness

Results speak for themselves!