Bought a very used JCW exhaust and I'm trying to polish off the soot. Its pretty well baked on there.. Was the original finish inside the tips supposed to be mirror polished like the exterior? Looks like the mirror finish is coming off.. Still trying to get the crap off, any suggestions?? In photos I've seen the tips are mirror polished on the inside as well like in this video —>>
I was as gentle as possible, but ended up using some wool pads with chrome polish, then a cotton polishing pad on my electric driver. Came out like this (still working on it):

 

Maybe try some oven cleaner?
Just make sure you don't get ANY on your paint!
I used to use Brillo pads on the exhaust stacks on my Kenworth. They take off the soot and crap pretty well and leave behind some sort of film that makes the water bead up for a while afterward. Since you can't get them in that groove on the inside of your exhaust, I'd try some oven cleaner. Maybe it'll help loosen it up for you.

 

Thanks. It sorta looks like the soot has bonded with the mirrored finish and is coming off. Is that right or is the inside supposed to be a "brushed" finish? Check out this photo:

 

I had the same issue with an older 996 Turbo. Got some good metal polisher from Meguiars and used a Dremel tool with a small polishing wheel on it. Worked great. Takes a little time and be sure to wear some safety glasses.

 

Mine look the same. Figure, who's looking inside there anyway, so gave up cleaning
I reckon that stuff is baked on. And even after you get it off, how long before it builds up again?
Otherwise, perhaps some light sanding?

 

I'm more concerned with the chrome flaking off. Guess Ill try some coarse wire attachments for the driver since the Brillo pad isn't working and is already brushed..

 

What I have done with stainless exhaust tips that works pretty well, is first clean off all the soot with a rag soaked in mineral spirits. Then I use Blue Magic metal polish cream and a Mother's Power Ball Mini on a cordless drill and go to town. Finish up with final polish of your choice and they look great.

 

 

this thread dances around two questions

is the exhaust chrome plated

or is it stainless?

all polish is an abrasive - so using polish removes some material. In a plated surface you can end up removing all the plating. You want to be careful about how much abrasive you use if you are dealing with a plated item ... it is extreme to go too far, but is the same as using too much compound on the paint. You can remove all the clear on the paint and you can rip all the way thru the chrome plate.

A stainless steel item however is the same materiel throughout its thickness. It gets its shine from polishing and in theory you can polish until there is nothing left .... but you won't wear the good surface away .... you improve the new surface you expose

I have an all stainless exhaust on my 79 and use Mother's Metal Polish to shine the outside. The inside is black from exhaust .... the nature of the beast. I have a standing buff wheel and have used it on many parts, but not the exhaust.



no power assist .... just the polish on a rag and some elbow grease . . .


{what I really see in the pictures is the same type of corrosion I get on "cheap" pot metal, plated parts . . . I see it on my mirrors and 'Monza' fuel caps... polish can't make this go away because it is a plate over really cheap castings and the casting is now pitted. To buff out the pits you end up removing the plate ....}

 

Thanks Capt'n! Thats the question I've been trying to answer: Are my tips supposed to be flaking or not? Sounds like the tips are just chrome plated. I just used a basic steel wool pad (0000) and it exposed the brushed undercoating beneath the mirrored finish.

The original looks pretty nice all polished up, but I'll make due with the brushed look. Who cares? Its just the inside of the pipe..