Yoshimura STAIN-Magic stainless exhaust polish

[ShowBizWolf]

(Modified the thread title because it has turned into my review/findings about the polish)

Hi everyone,

I want to finally buy something to remove the discoloration on my bike's stainless exhaust. I bought the system 4 years ago and the blueish/brown is finally getting on my nerves...

I found this vid and am totally blown away by the results!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNuecgpQOAk

Was all ready to buy a tube of that stuff but when I saw it's $30 I was like hmm perhaps I will explore my other options. I saw another video showing similar results with Autosol, and that's only $7ish a tube.

What do you guys suggest? Any secrets of the universe to be uncovered by this thread?

Thanks everybody 

[Janx101]

Not sure with stainless pipes but it may work.

On aluminum wheels and bicycle rims also..you can use tin foil (yes like you cook with) and water to remove blemishes  .. dip a smooth piece of foil (about playing card size) in water and start with circular rubs over the problem area. .

Don't know the WHY it works (electrolysis maybe?) . . But it works!

Surface stuff only though... if it's deeper or pitted then it might be beyond foil?

[ShowBizWolf]

I will certainly remember that trick Janx, thank you for sharing! I don't have anything to try that on right now but I'll remember 

Little bit nervous to try it on my pipes (I spent way more than I probably should have on that exhaust lol but I didn't know about this site or much about bikes at all back then)...

SO today is payday and I bought the Yoshi stuff. Cheapest place I could find it was on eBay... no US sellers so it's on the way from Japan... when it gets here I'll post an update 

[Kijona]

You can use lemon juice and a rag/towel to remove mild discoloration - also works on non-coated stainless pots and pans! The results are...underwhelming but it's the least aggressive option.

Something slightly more aggressive, and that can be used for other purposes, is Eagle One "NEVR-DULL". This stuff works on basically anything:



Finally, the best metal polish I've ever used, is Mothers Mag Polish. It's pretty aggressive and will turn almost any metal into a mirror:



Whatever you use, you'll want to make sure to thoroughly clean up afterwards. Most polishes have a petroleum component (i.e. oil). Guess what happens when you leave oil on metal and then heat it up? Smoke and discoloration. Non-chlorinated CRC Brakleen should work well.

[ShowBizWolf]

Wow thanks a bunch for the reply Kijona!

I have used Nevr-Dull before... used to polish the chrome on my Valiant with it    It worked pretty well but I was looking for something like a paste for my GS pipes.

Also thank you for the tip on cleaning up the pipes... it probably doesn't say that on the instructions section on the back of the tube of polish 

[The Buddha]

Stainless exhaust is only stainless if it hasn't been heated to past the inversion temperature (or what ever temperature that is called).
Stainless steel is just low carbon steel that has been dipped in nirtic acid. The steel forms a coating that protects it from corrosion. But heat it past that temperature, and Bye bye protective coating. Worse yet, you cant paint it, its too smooth, you need to sand the heck out of it before you can paint it.
SS cans make sense, they dont reach that temp usually, but headers are usually a disaster.
So is chromed steel.
IMHO, plain old steel is the best material for headers, you can take it off and paint it every other year or so.

Cool.
Buddha.

[ShowBizWolf]

Thanks Buddha! That's some good information to know!!

Crossing fingers that this polish (and elbow grease) works to make some of this blue/gold color go away!

[ShowBizWolf]

Okay so... I personally am very very happy with the Yoshimura Stain-Magic! 

I spent about 6 hours over the past weekend working on my exhaust.

Here is the before pic... bought this whole thing brand new 4 years ago and never did anything to it except keep it clean:


During:


And here is the after:




I still have about half the tube left and plan on keeping up with it from now on.

I have some touching up to do and then I want to clean the whole thing like Kijona said. But I'm super glad it turned out this way and wanted to finally update this thread.

[The Buddha]

Oh no, you have a flattened cat you're using to polish it !!!!
Cool.
Buddha.

[ShowBizWolf]

lolololololol 

[Janx101]

... all the best polishers use a nice fluffy soft buff pad! ... and a cat is self cleaning!

[Nathcarr91]

Wow that's came up really well super impressed 😊 also you mentioned auto-sol, little tip for you, autosol and some wire-wool works wonders

Looks very good all the same though

Awesome
Nath


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ShowBizWolf]

@ Janx... omg the fact that cats keep themselves groomed and smelling good is such a perk. Self-cleaning ftw 

@Nath... thanks for the tip!!! It's a good thing to add to this thread, for sure... more info for people in the future! Thank you for sharing and for taking a look at the thread