B@W Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Not the most 'hardcore' of questions, but I need to get a set of stainless headers off a Caterham cleaned up; there is no corrosion, just five years of road scum and tarnish. Is there a method of blasting (aqua?) that will bring them up to a nice satin finish. The collector box is a bit fiddly to clean up manually with Scotchbrite in my opinion, plus I am bone idle when it comes to cleaning bikes and cars. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant802 Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Not the most 'hardcore' of questions, but I need to get a set of stainless headers off a Caterham cleaned up; there is no corrosion, just five years of road scum and tarnish. Is there a method of blasting (aqua?) that will bring them up to a nice satin finish. The collector box is a bit fiddly to clean up manually with Scotchbrite in my opinion, plus I am bone idle when it comes to cleaning bikes and cars. Cheers hello, i've often thought about cleaning up my headers, (micron serpeant stainless), they are pretty tarnished, but no corrosion like yours, i've had a go with scotchbright before and to be honest it didn't really do much, i take it you want it back to a non shiny silver? if i were to do mine, i'd probably do a little test piece using the bench grinder (wire wheel attachment!) and see how it comes out. I might get slated for this, but stainless is pretty darn tough and i'm sure it can take it. Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Vinegar & tin foil is your friend (sounds odd I know) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorenzo Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Get to a pukka car bodywork type place and buy some heavy duty cutting paste, not just t-cut, proper heavy stuff. Done in a short while, leaving you free to go out committing crimes with your new finger-print free finger tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
929dude Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Solvol Autosol and a nylon pan scourer. Works a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedy sie Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 picking paste....ohh nasty stuff but by heck does it fizz the crap of..and watch it added to wire wool it will ignite.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltabadhand Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Do you have an air compressor and a neighbor that needs their yard defiled? Get yourself a ~12" long piece of 7/16" plastic tubing and make a hole on the oblique a couple inches from the end of it. Insert the nozzle from your dusting attachment and tape it securely on. Cut an angle on the dangling end and insert it into a box of baking soda. Congratulations,you've just made yourself a media blasting gun. Works great at removing road gunk and will leave a nice satin finish. If they're very heavily tarnished,might have to use a bronze wheel but of course that will leave a brushed sheen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilchicken0 Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Send it to Camcoat and get a heat resting layer put on it - they do silver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazdude Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Solvol Autosol and a nylon pan scourer. Works a treat. +1. absolutely the best combo in my books for bringing back stainless or alloy parts from the dead if using elbow grease. However it will be alot more gloss/shiny than satin. Have recently found out the advantage of a bench grinder with a buff wheel and polish stick... goodbye sweaty clothes and aching arms and hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansp1 Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 Use an alloy wheel cleaner,most of them are a mild acid, works a treat, have used wonder wheels but am sure there is something cheaper available... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovi Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 Use an alloy wheel cleaner,most of them are a mild acid, works a treat, have used wonder wheels but am sure there is something cheaper available... brick cleaner works well on alloy wheels but needs watering down and burns your hands like wonder wheels and is available from builders merchants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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