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

Solvol Autosol metal polish. I use that **** on everything!

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.

I used mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish on my Boxster's exhaust.

http://images.stylintrucks.com/produ.../m405100_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps07dfbec5.jpg

Wow, is that and OEM back box you've made look that shiny?

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.

I have heard (Not tried) that Coke and foil work.

See the YouTube video: How to clean chrome - YouTube

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. ;)

WOW! Did you use a microfiber cloth or a polisher extension for a power tool?

Never Dull will sure help you get it clean. You can polish from there.

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.

I enjoyed it.

Just a rag and buffed it with a microfiber cloth.. all by hand.

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!

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!

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.

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.

Perfectlap, I have had carpal tunnel. Honest! Its a labor of love cause the things that break on these cars is unbelievable!

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....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/P1000048.jpg

*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:
http://www.evan.com/boxster/milltek_non_res_center.jpg

After polishing. Blue magic metal polish and a buffing wheel on a drill.
http://www.evan.com/boxster/non_res_polished.jpg

Okay you guys are nuts. But talented. Bad combination.

That came out great. Nice job. Power tool.... hummmm.

I think its a good combination! Being a little nuts helped me find and use talents I didn't know I had. Put another way, it doesn't matter what talents you have if you're not nuts enough to do something with them.

Of course, I am talking about bigger things then polishing an exhaust system, but you get the idea. :cheers:

OK, here is the "before" picture:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1386457533.jpg

and here is "after":

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1386457593.jpg

I wasn't able to get the pipes back to shiny but look at the cans, what a difference!

Nice...love to sock skate on it.:cheers:

You guys have way too much time on your hands. But that garage is AWESOME!

Here is why I didn't think it was stainless... 9 years of German winters were not kind to this muffler. Though it would be a great before-and-after comparo if I polished this one up... :D

http://www.evan.com/boxster/e_OEM_muffler2.jpg

Ahhhhhhhh..... I met my match.

My muffler (& Boxster) have never been driven in the rain much less a harsh winter.

Yeah, I think polishing this one would be quite an acheivement!

I actually don't know what kind of life my box had in Germany before I "saved" it and took it sunny Spain. But that muffler tells the story.

Thanks
 

Hello Group, thanks for the motivation. This took about 7 hours. I started with heavy buffing compound and toothbrushes. I got out the orbital buffer and also used a wheel polishing head attached to a drill. To finish it all off I used stainless steel rouge (Green). I use the green gouge to polish stainless steel watch cases and bands and it works great! Again thanks for project idea.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1387054152.jpg

Now thats the spirit! Nice work! :dance:

That looks great! You will find yourself looking down there more often now.

Chuck W., wow! that's cleaner than the 'inside' of my house! My garage is pretty clean, but that's incredible!http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1387125766.jpg

There is hope for this exhaust after all... in progress of polishing it up:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1389820530.jpg

I'm sitting here chuckling, you guys are nuts lol.

Welcome to Chuck's Cafe and Garage, where we don't discourage eating off the floor! That is amazing.

You ain't seen nothin' yet. My Capristo exhaust valves arrived today, so this weekend its time to weld up the switchable bypass. Of course, the muffler needs to be polished up before then! :D

Since this thread has been revived.....Chuck, are you the same guy who had posted what was IMO Forensic Quality revival / refresh / refurbed / speckless shots of the underside of your 993? If you are the same guy you are WITHOUT A DOUBT anyone / everyone should refer to for cleaning ANYTHING Porsche related.

Haaaaaaa.... no, that was larpy. He puts me to shame. Here is the thread and a teaser photo;

I Have Been Polishing! I Have Issues, I Know! - Rennlist Discussion Forums

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...ow-polish1.jpg

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but it did inspire me to have a crack at the underside of my old 986. Not perfect, but I think I got off to a decent start.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...-no/mirror.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W...underneath.jpg