termi and fingerprints

ok so i started spraying my pipes with wd40. if you have ever seen what a SS pipe looks like after it has turned cause it was sprayed with wd40 it looks amazing. a golden copper color with blue huh. process is simple spray it start the bike let it smoke off and repeat till you get the desired color.

anyway started the process and noticed there are fingerprints on my pipes. guess the stealership didnt wipe them down. i was told by a friend fine sand paper will get them out. like 1000 grit. anybody know about this?

You can use the Grey and White Scotchbrites to take off imperfections in the surface appearance without taking off too much material like sand paper.

leftcoast32 said:

You can use the Grey and White Scotchbrites to take off imperfections in the surface appearance without taking off too much material like sand paper.

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really great that will take out the fingerprints? thanks so which one to go with grey or white? or get both and where can i get these

use scotchbrite or 1500 grit sandpaper and some brake or carb cleaner, but most importantly only sand horizontally, so the minute scratches look like the brushed stainless. If you want no scratches, follow with rubbing compound,
Truth is, you may be able to scrub them with a wash cloth and some acetone/lacquer thinner or other solvent. the fingerprints have been sealed in with your silicone, and you just need to strip it clean metal, and reapply

mrbrettbaker said:

use scotchbrite or 1500 grit sandpaper and some brake or carb cleaner, but most importantly only sand horizontally, so the minute scratches look like the brushed stainless. If you want no scratches, follow with rubbing compound,
Truth is, you may be able to scrub them with a wash cloth and some acetone/lacquer thinner or other solvent. the fingerprints have been sealed in with your silicone, and you just need to strip it clean metal, and reapply

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which scotch brite though grey or white

I would use whichever is finest, I think white? Shouldn't take much and it think a "dry" solvent will do most of the work. The fingerprints are dirt and/oil left on top of the metal, they wouldn't penetrate. Sanding takes a superfine layer of metal off. I think a solvent alone with a soft rag is a good first attempt.
I think you will have to find and auto body supply store to get fine scotchbrites

don't use WD40 anymore on any hot parts of your bike, car, wife, whatever. very bad idea.

mark419ny said:

which scotch brite though grey or white

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Start with the grey as it is more abrasive then the white. The white is used to polish after the grey.

You can get the different color scotchbrite from automotive paint stores.

Got any pics?

I would use a metal polish on it rather than getting into it with an abrasive media.
You can make more work for yourself with abrasive media.
It's better to start off gentle and spend a little more time, with a view to working up to heavier products.

Something that's gentle to start of with.
Then get into it harder as required.
If a gentle metal polish is not working well enough, you could go in heavier with the new AUTOSOL Metal Life Saver, which is designed to be a corrosion & stain remover. It comes in a white plastic bottle.
It will remove fingerprints.

I've used it before to polish the exhausts to perfection.
It will remove old discoloured blueing, ready for the fresh bluing to reappear.(fresh blueing is beautiful)
You've got to read the warnings on the bottle as the Polish is corrosive. You can smell the corrosive agents when working with it.
(Come to think of it, all the really heavy metal polishes are corrosive.)

When using it one should wear gloves because it will cause chemical burns to your skin.
You can feel it stinging bare skin.
It's possible to boost the polishing action with some OOOO grade steel wool(which is the finest grade).

I've used the OOOO steel wool(gently) to clean up cooked on road tar and bugs off chromed exhausts with MR Sheen.
And used it with the AUTOSOL to get into the old blueing up near the top of the headers(at the head) where it's the most cooked.

kickarsmann said:

Got any pics?

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+1

It's the oil in our skin that you can see, wipe with prepsol (automotive cleaner for spray painters) then scotch brite it, then do your WD40 process.