What's the best stuff for cleaning stainless steel?
#16
Still plays with cars.
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I second the flitz. Never used the other products but flitz is great on stainless and darn near anything else too. Use it to poplish scratches off your watch crystal and metal case/band, shine up fiberglass - you name it. Find it at marine stores (West marine for instance).
I use it on my boat which is where I first discovered it.
I use it on my boat which is where I first discovered it.
#19
Nordschleife Master
Originally Posted by dhicks
Ok I have cleaned and taken pics but when I try to upload the files are too big...what do I do...I see others have posted pics
Scott
#20
Drifting
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Scott I think that worked....as you can see the exhaust tips are the standard none chromed and I have cleaned using scotch pad and Flitz...I think they look better than they did...I guess I should have taken before and after shots....still anybody who has an OEM exhaust will know what they look like 7 years on.
#22
Three Wheelin'
dhicks....
I don't know, the Scotch pad has left a lot of scratches as in 'satin' finish. The Real Best Stuff for aluminum and stainless steel is Simichrome, most good motorcycle shops, etc... should have it. The stuff is pink in color but turns the rag black as the metal becomes polished to a HIGH Shine like chrome - hence the name. It may take some elbow grease to bring up the high luster, but the results are worth it.
I don't know, the Scotch pad has left a lot of scratches as in 'satin' finish. The Real Best Stuff for aluminum and stainless steel is Simichrome, most good motorcycle shops, etc... should have it. The stuff is pink in color but turns the rag black as the metal becomes polished to a HIGH Shine like chrome - hence the name. It may take some elbow grease to bring up the high luster, but the results are worth it.
#23
Drifting
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey thanks for the tip...mine were satin already..I assume somebody else had done this in the past and when I tried just the flitz on its own it had no or little effect...I will try anything to get the real luster I was looking for
#25
Technical Guru
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Crappy photo (Before & After on a 964RSA) but you get the idea, Blue Magic metal polish and a dremel tool. Shine-wise they look the same as the factory polished pieces!
#26
Drifting
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RWelch...the scratches are not as bad as they look, a good cleaner and buffer will get them clean, but I will have to remove them to do that. I am reasonable happy with them at the mo as they look 100% better than they did and if I could only get somebody to trade me for Maxflows I will not have to spend time cleaning anyway...hahahaha....once I get the SAI / CEL sorted I will be moving to maxflows so they are fine for now.
#27
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I did the 30 minute clean up on the standard tips using a solution of Bartender's friend, a citrus based pot cleaner (we use it on the pots and pans in the house) then a follow up with some Wenol red tube and a buffing using a dremel.
Until I can score some big ovals, this will have to do...
Enjoy,
Until I can score some big ovals, this will have to do...
Enjoy,
Last edited by Travis; 04-26-2013 at 03:48 PM.
#28
I use 3M liquid polish on a towel strip with a about a pea size of Blue Magic. Than wax. It comes out great. If that does not work because tips are very dirty / tarished, I use more Blue Magic on the towel strip and rub more aggressively.
#29
Rennlist Member
Autosol gets my votes as well. It works really rell and it not too abrasive. It is superb for polishing alluminium to a mirror finish - I use it on my bicycle.
Cheers,
David
Cheers,
David
#30
Drifting
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK Simichrome it is...what an amazing difference that these pics really dont do justice to....look at pre (1st pic) and post (2nd pic) for the difference,,,,and this was 15 minutes by hand on each exhaust...the effect with a power tool must be stunning...I will be using simichrome from now on.