I can't polish my stainless exhaust..

[Elfdor]

Hi friends, i just bought a stainless steel kit. Im trying to polish my bike's exhaust to a mirror finish like before. Instead of making it shine im making it worst.

How do i polish with e buff wheels? In any directions? For every direction i buff my exhuast will have lots of zig-zag marks on it cause by the sisal wheel/black compound. By the way do i just use a wet cloth to clean away the compound before i change to another? Or i must use soap or something?

Sorry for asking so much at a time. Really new to this..My exhaust is now all hazy marks..Sad.

[jrow]

Elfdor,

First read the sticky at the top of this page motorcycle polishing 101, then ask your questions. It talks about polishing aluminum BUT the process is the same. SS is just a harder metal that aluminum.

John

[Elfdor]

John, for your info. I've already read through most of the threads before i posted this, but none of those i've read teaches what's the actual buffing direction i should do. As my bike exhaust dun have a flat suface. Thanks anyway.

[CarWiz]

For round or tube polishing, I find it easier to run the wheel perpendicular to the length surface and moving down the length. Let the wheel and compound do the work--Don't apply a lot of pressure. Work a length then move (roll) the piece toward you so there's a little overlap when the wheel flexes slightly. Apply compound to the wheel frequently. (Every few square inches.) When the part heats up I usually wipe the compound on the part like a melting Crayon then buff that area.

As with any technique, patients and practice is the only way to get the finish you want.

Here's a steel generator housing. This isn't plated--It's raw steel polished in prep for plating.



This is how I generally get them.

[Elfdor]

Cool pic!

Wheel perpendicular to the length surface and moving down the length? Meaning the wheel surface buffing vertically over the length laying horizontally? But i can't apply cut & color motion with that. Or wheel surface buffing horizontally with the piece laying horizontally.so that i can apply the cut & color motion?.

Anway 1 of my cotton wheel got mixed up with some left over emry black, as i use only a wet cloth to clean between changing of compound. How do i get rid of the black compound residual on a Spiral S./green? Thank u very much.

[Rasper]

I wash mine in soap and hot water. Seems to work well.

Just forget about cut and color and get the wheel on the exhaust any way you can, and keep it moving.

Richard

[jrow]

Elfdor,

Caswell's should have a "hour glass" shaped buff that should make your buffing a lot easier. Check this out http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/bluejob.html

John

[FigureLLC]

I've personally experimented with a lot of cleaning agents for cutting the compound, and Goo-Gone works great. Any film left behind by the Goo-Gone cleans up nicely with a quick wipe down of acetone.

[alabama_lowlife]

acetone itself removes residue quite well. it's what i use.