12-03-2013, 05:15 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
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Best way to polish an exhaust back to "old glory"
Hi there,
I am trying to sell a (non-Boxster) exhaust online.
In the pictures it shows some oxydation and doesn't look too great/appealing. (I got a few messages about it).
What's the best method and chemicals to polish a stainless steel exhaust back to its shiny old self?
Thanks
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
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12-03-2013, 05:19 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 2,485
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Solvol Autosol metal polish. I use that **** on everything!
__________________
'99 black 986
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12-03-2013, 06:21 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 317
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If that doesn't work, you might try "Bar Keepers Friend". I haven't tried it on auto exhaust but I use it on my stainless cooktop and it works great for that application.
__________________
Dave S.
2003 Boxster S
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12-03-2013, 08:04 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Agoura Hills (LA) So.Cal.
Posts: 1,574
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I used mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on my Boxster's exhaust.
__________________
1995 Porsche C4 Cab
2016 BMW M2, 6 Speed LBB - ED 7/2016
1997 993 Cab - Sold; 1997 993 Turbo - Sold
2001 Boxster S - Original Owner - 30K Miles -SOLD
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12-03-2013, 11:45 AM
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#5
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2004 Boxster S
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Norway/Spain
Posts: 237
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck W.
I used mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on my Boxster's exhaust.
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Wow, is that and OEM back box you've made look that shiny?
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12-03-2013, 11:58 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,746
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If it is an option, remove the tip and use a cloth buffing wheel mounted to a bench grinder along with some compound. Failing that, a buffing cloth attachment for a drill, if no there follow Chuck's advice along with some elbow grease.
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12-03-2013, 04:51 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Kingwood, TX
Posts: 445
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I have heard (Not tried) that Coke and foil work.
See the YouTube video: How to clean chrome - YouTube
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12-03-2013, 04:58 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Agoura Hills (LA) So.Cal.
Posts: 1,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evan9eleven
Wow, is that and OEM back box you've made look that shiny?
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It is an OEM '03 exhaust I had modified by FD Motorsports. While it was off the car I polished to a mirror finish. No one besides me enjoys it. 
__________________
1995 Porsche C4 Cab
2016 BMW M2, 6 Speed LBB - ED 7/2016
1997 993 Cab - Sold; 1997 993 Turbo - Sold
2001 Boxster S - Original Owner - 30K Miles -SOLD
Last edited by Chuck W.; 03-29-2015 at 08:08 AM.
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12-03-2013, 05:41 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck W.
I used mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on my Boxster's exhaust.
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WOW! Did you use a microfiber cloth or a polisher extension for a power tool?
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
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12-03-2013, 06:15 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,810
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Never Dull will sure help you get it clean. You can polish from there.
__________________
Don't worry … I've got the microfilm.
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12-03-2013, 06:19 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 633
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Looks great. I used noxon, I think that's what it's called. I cleaned it up, but nothing like that. If you can put a polishing head on your power drill it would go a long way. Otherwise you'll need a lot of elbow grease.
__________________
LB/GG/MB 02 2.7 sold
MB/GG 02 996TT
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12-03-2013, 06:58 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seattle
Posts: 274
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck W.
It is an OEM '03 exhaust I had modified by MD Motorsports. While it was off the car I polished to a mirror finish. No one besides me enjoys it. |
I enjoyed it.
__________________
Current: 981 Cayman
Former: '02 BS and '08 C
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12-03-2013, 07:50 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Agoura Hills (LA) So.Cal.
Posts: 1,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisZang
WOW! Did you use a microfiber cloth or a polisher extension for a power tool?
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Just a rag and buffed it with a microfiber cloth.. all by hand.
__________________
1995 Porsche C4 Cab
2016 BMW M2, 6 Speed LBB - ED 7/2016
1997 993 Cab - Sold; 1997 993 Turbo - Sold
2001 Boxster S - Original Owner - 30K Miles -SOLD
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12-04-2013, 11:21 AM
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#14
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2004 Boxster S
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Norway/Spain
Posts: 237
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tucker2
I enjoyed it.
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Me too!
I was under the impression from looking at my rusty OEM muffler that it was just galvanized mild steel. Chuck, does it stay shiny like that without a lot of maintenance? It looks like stainless. Nice!
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12-04-2013, 11:34 AM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
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I have a 99 and it was not pretty. I researched and discovered its stainless steel. I got some fine wet sandpaper sat down in the driveway in my bathing suit and a hose and wet sanded it with the fine sandpaper. I think it was 800 then 1500 grit then dried it off and waxed it. Looked great!
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99 Porsche Boxster
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12-04-2013, 12:05 PM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Agoura Hills (LA) So.Cal.
Posts: 1,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evan9eleven
Me too!
I was under the impression from looking at my rusty OEM muffler that it was just galvanized mild steel. Chuck, does it stay shiny like that without a lot of maintenance? It looks like stainless. Nice!
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Mikez is right, it is stainless steel. I have about 3,000 miles on the muffler when that photo was taken. Very easy to maintain once you get it to shine.
__________________
1995 Porsche C4 Cab
2016 BMW M2, 6 Speed LBB - ED 7/2016
1997 993 Cab - Sold; 1997 993 Turbo - Sold
2001 Boxster S - Original Owner - 30K Miles -SOLD
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12-04-2013, 01:14 PM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck W.
Just a rag and buffed it with a microfiber cloth.. all by hand.
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you must have strong hands because that's really an impressive result. I have polished Fabspeed tips and using the Mother's polish and the Never Dull has not made a budge in the caked-on carbon. I'm hessitant to get out the dremmel, I might just send it out.
I once worked with a DIY'er guy who polished exhaust manifolds to mirror shines from oatmeal finishes. He used some sort of wheel brush.
__________________
GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
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12-04-2013, 03:46 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
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Perfectlap, I have had carpal tunnel. Honest! Its a labor of love cause the things that break on these cars is unbelievable!
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99 Porsche Boxster
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12-04-2013, 04:34 PM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Agoura Hills (LA) So.Cal.
Posts: 1,574
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I am OCD with polishing things. A good day is waxing the cars. I laid 950+ feet of vinyl composite tile in my garage. Then waxed it.... and wax it. Then bought a high speed burnisher (buffer) off of Craigslist, and once a week everything gets drug out of the garage and I do my thing. Life is good....
__________________
1995 Porsche C4 Cab
2016 BMW M2, 6 Speed LBB - ED 7/2016
1997 993 Cab - Sold; 1997 993 Turbo - Sold
2001 Boxster S - Original Owner - 30K Miles -SOLD
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12-05-2013, 07:37 AM
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#20
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2004 Boxster S
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Norway/Spain
Posts: 237
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*cough*
WOW I though I was bad when I did the exhaust on my TT years back. The wife couldn't understand why I would use so much time to polish something, as she put it, "that no one will ever see." It made me happy though!
Center pipe before:
After polishing. Blue magic metal polish and a buffing wheel on a drill.
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