Help cleaning and polishing exhaust tips

[matteni]

I need some detailing help.

I have some 5 year old DC Sport exhaust tips that need to be shined up. I wrote DC sports about the discoloration around the tips and they said they should polish up like new.

I have tried hand polishing with some stuff from the auto parts store but it hasn't helped much.

I do have a dremmel tool with a polishing wheel - but have never tried to use it.

Any recommendations on techniques, products, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Also - let me know if from experiance it is not going to work and I should be looking at replacement tips.

Thanks in advance...

[docjohn]

I too had the dc pollished exhaust for many years.I kept it relatively shinny with mothers mag and aluminum pollish and elbow grease,I could'nt get rid of the tarnish or burnish that ocured over the years,maybe the dremmil will get that also.

[len3.8]

Mothers and a lot of rubbing.
Len

[Veleno]

Here's how I got the "tarnish" stains out of my other SS exhaust/tips. I'm not sure if it'll work for you but it's worth a shot.

1. Get some liquid chrome polish(I used Turtle Wax,small green can).
2. You'll need an old thick sock or towel.
3. With the tips still hot(works best after a spirited drive) pour some polish onto your sock/towel and start to wipe/buff off the tarnish stains. Don't worry if the polish starts to bubble/cook on the tips, no harm done there. Keep wiping until your tips come clean(hope they do).
4. Make sure to switch sides of the sock/towel once it gets brown.

Good Luck

[matteni]

Thank you all for these tips!

[NSX 3.0]

This stuff worked great on mine www.flitz.com




Steven 91 Blk/Ivory

[matteni]

Thanks for the tip. FYI they offer a free sample for $5 to cover the s/h. I found 2 10oz tubes on ebay for $7 + $2 s/h so for $10 I will give it a try!

[ajnsx]

a product called autosol. its available in australia, maybe america also. used it on my showcar crx exhaust and door latch polished to perfection..........

[Jimbo]

This works nicely...


http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1002&SKU=10223

http://www.griotsgarage.com/images/products/lg/10223_LG.jpg

-Jim

[NSX01]

Nick,


Sell me your DC exhaust for dirt cheap and buy a new one. This way you don't have to deal with the polishing. hehehehe :rolleyes:

[matteni]

BTW - I know my dremel tool has a polishing wheel attachment. Would this be a good tool to use for the job?

[len3.8]

Be careful with the dremel, as the polishing pads have different hardness to them. Check the effect on a part of the exhaust that you would not see. Sometimes they cause little swirls that are just short of engraving. If you haven't bought the tips specificly for buffing metal be extra careful.
Len

[JimK]

Try Eagle-One polishing wool, safe and non-abrasive on all metals, including stainless steel and billet aluminum. Have it at Autozone. I'd avoid dremel tool or anything abrasive. Easier than Mother's.

[Russ]

Originally posted by Jimbo
This works nicely...
http://www.griotsgarage.com/images/products/lg/10223_LG.jpg

-Jim

Be careful with this stuff - it's abrasive and will leave swirl marks on stainless.

[Acura NsX Pilot]

Originally posted by Jimbo
This works nicely...


http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1002&SKU=10223

http://www.griotsgarage.com/images/products/lg/10223_LG.jpg

-Jim

I could swear that is Periokids garage in that pic.

[Periokid]

LOL.

;)

[renny]

what worked for me when i used to put my car in carshows i would just grab some meguiares polish put some on a clean dirtless rag and buff it like i would the rest of the car, would get rid of the soot and get my muffler tips crazy shiney

[NSXaholic]

matteni, I've got DC Sports Exhausts, and I'd like to do the same sort of cleaning that you've posted about. Have you had a chance to try any of the methods, and if so, what is your conclusion.

Regards.

[matteni]

Nope - I ordered the www.flitz.com stuff off ebay and am waiting for it to arrive. I am going to start with elbow grease and work up from there.

This week I am doing:
- new Jun ultralight fly
- new set typeR gears
- new typeR 4.23 RP
- non snap ring case
- typeR differential torque
- rebuilt ACR clutch with new ceramic clamping material
- paint cooling bottle
- fuel filter
- trunk struts
- thermostat

Whew! Unfortunately - the tips are going to have to wait till I get back from the track this weekend. Or maybe I will bring my polishing stuff to the track to give me something to do between runs?

:)

[docjohn]

Has anyone tried or hears of gliptone?You'd think that our two wheeled friends would have good pollishes as they have a lot of shiny stuff.

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by ajnsx
a product called autosol. its available in australia, maybe america also. used it on my showcar crx exhaust and door latch polished to perfection..........

Autosol metal polish is indeed available in the States. They carry it at Emmons Coachworks (http://www.emmonscoachworks.com). Those out of town can order by phone or from their website. NSXaholic, it's in Villa Park, so you can stop by there if it's convenient for you.

[Ponyboy]

Jeez, Matteni. Is that enough to do in one weekend?;) Let us know the results please.

[ajnsx]

thanks nsxtasy for the link, i stand by the product..:)


Also if you want your tailights nice and shiny use the finest (least abrasive) finishing paint polish you can find restores them like new ;)
end rant
detail king :)

edit: i could only find the plastic autosol polish on that site nsxtasy mentioned, make sure its the METAL autosol polish

nice to see the nsx-t on the zymol car care hints page :)

[vegasnsx]

I use Zep 5 Star, its a nice polishing compound and not too abrasive, I use it on all our bizjets to make the leading edges and all the metal have a mirror finish.

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by ajnsx
edit: i could only find the plastic autosol polish on that site nsxtasy mentioned, make sure its the METAL autosol polish

Oops - sorry, my error.

Emmons carries a metal polish (http://www.emmonscoachworks.com/ecommerce/shopDetails.cfm?p=5525&cat=5) made by Ouator...

[matteni]

I tried the Flitz stuff and really liked it.

Basically this weekend I was at the mall and went in a shop that sells swords, knives, and other stuff to people that never grew out of Dungeons and Dragons. Anyway they exclusively recommend Flitz and it reminded me that I had some at home.

So I:

- Washed the car
- Waxed the car
- Polished the tips using Mother's and a towel till my arm was sore.

Definitely an improvement but still less then I was hoping for.

Then I rubbed by hand a thin layer of Flitz on the tips and really polished them with another towel. The towel was very dirty and the tips were MUCH cleaner and more shiny then with just the mothers. They don't look like brand new but I am very happy with the results and will use this product again and recommend it to others.

[Tobal]

I picked up some "Never Dull" by eagle one at my local Kragen to do some polishing up on my DC Exhaust Tips and it seems to bring back the original shine....Even some parts that got that dullish brown sattan look came back to silver polish look.

[D'Ecosse]

I used to use Autosol metal polish back in Britain on my Triumph motorcycle crankcases - it had the brand name Solvol Autosol.
Absoutely incredible stuff, especially on Aluminium (as we call it back there!) or chrome.
A Google search does turn up several US outlets (~$10) - it also shows it is indeed a favorite of the motorcycle crowd - wheels & crankcases especially (non-Japanese which tended to be lacquer-cated)
Think I have to get some - haven't used it in 20 years but have great memories of the results of polishing the Triumphs.

[ajnsx]

ive tried many polishes, autosol is the best :) just try it on aluminium door latches, the stuff cant be beat!