How to Polish Chrome and Remove Exhaust Scratches
This is a tutorial on how to remove those brown spots, chrome rust stuff as well as small/light scratches from your motorcycle exhaust. Chrome is also found on car exhaust, tire rims, and other parts of cars and bikes. This same technique can pretty much be used on it all.
I own a 2007 Honda VTX 1300 Motorcycle which you can see by viewing this wallpaper. Aside from random kids deciding that my bike is nothing more than a play ground, I have also received damage from girls shoes (getting on and off the passenger seat), those pesky little brown spots that start growing on chrome, scratches from me trying to get the pesky brown chrome spots off, and even me accidentally being stupid enough to have something on the key chain aside from the bike key.
Anyone who buys something slightly pricey, should consider whether this is something that they want to take care of and keep nice, or just let normal wear happen as it happens. These scratches aren’t the ‘life or death’ kind of wear and tear, but it sure would have been nice to try and avoid them a little bit. Especially since I don’t plan on keeping this motorcycle forever (though if I took care of it, it would be an awesome graduation present if I ever have a kid). So for the time that I do have it, I think taking care of it is financially smart to keep the resell value up, and it also just plain sucks to have an impeccable machine with one nasty little area of scratches on it.
My friend Jake has quite a bit of knowledge on taking care of chrome. Things he learned from working cars and especially things he learned from owning a sweet v-four Honda Magna. Which happens to have 4 massive chrome exhausts on it. He taught me the basics of getting rid of these scratches, and caring for the chrome on my bike. Something which I figure many people who have chrome on their bike or car should know as well.
Things You Need To Buy
It’s pretty simple. The Super Fine steel wool is fine enough that if properly lubricated will remove light scratches and buff that chrome to a high shine. by itself though, it will dull the shine of your exhaust or chrome rims. So what do you suppose the lubricant for this is? The Mothers Chrome Polish. Keep that steel wool and your chrome exhaust covered in this stuff. You basically can’t have to much. Same with car waxing and polishing, don’t do this in the sun and make sure your exhaust is at room temperature. Every minute or two you might realize that the polish is dripping off the exhaust or is getting thin, so keep that bottle of polish nearby.
Swirl the steel wool in small circles over the affected area. If it’s those pesky brown spots/chrome rust stuff, just a few strong swipes usually does the trick. Small scratches on your motorcycle exhaust need to be buffed with the steel wool for a while and might need a few sessions to really make a difference. Use a damp terry/microfiber towel to clean off the chrome polish when you think you have removed everything to get a good look at it. If not, follow the rinse and repeat concept.
If you have removed the rust/brown spots or small/light scratches from your chrome, clean it all off and follow the directions on the back of the bottle of polish to get a real nice and clear shine out of your chrome.
For those really interested in taking care of their chrome, make your you take the proper precautions and Winterize your Motorcycle so that you don’t end up with rust eaten metal all over your motorcycle.
YOU would choose “Mother’s” Brand…..
[…] I really enjoy how smooth it drives. The Pearl Dark Blue looks amazing out on the road. The cornering and turns are great compared other 1300cc bikes, or ones close to it in size. The Passenger seat is a little narrow but I plan on getting a new one soon enough. There is lots of Chrome from front to back. Driver seat is comfortable and well positioned. Everyone driving around their 750’s and 800’s regardless of if it’s a Harley, Honda or whatever always turn their head and gawk. Stock pipes aren’t loud, but are big, beautiful and add a lot more chrome. They (the exhaust) seem to really be a trouble spot on collecting light scratches and that nasty chrome rust stuff that looks like brown spots. I decided to buckle down and really learn how to repair them, and wrote a tutorial on How To Repair and Remove Scratches from Chrome Exhaust. […]
[…] Since buying this bike I have started collecting minor scratches on the chrome parts, especially the exhaust. After learning how to repair these scratches, I wrote a tutorial on How To Remove Scratches From Chrome Exhaust. […]
[…] Preparing your exhaust and other chrome parts for winter: pretty crucial. Get some really light weight oil, like WD40, in the muffler ends and any possible drain holes. Put a few plastic bags, balled up into the exhaust ends. This will prevent moisture from entering. Finally, use some plastic bags to cover the exhaust and other crucial chrome parts. It keeps moisture off, and will slow/prevent rusting. If you look at my Hond VTX Wallaper, you can see my Honda VTX 1300 has lots of surface area’s which could receive lots of damage with out proper preparation. […]
[…] This is a tutorial on how to remove those brown spots, chrome rust stuff as well as small/light scratches from your motorcycle exhaust … technique can pretty much be used on it all. I own a 2007 Honda VTX 1300 Motorcycle which you can see … he learned from working cars and especially things he learned from owning a sweet v-four Honda Magna source: How to Polish Chrome and Remove Exhaust…, AREALLYGOODNAME: […]
Do have before and after pictures of the pipes? I would love to see the results.
Thanks,
Bill