Ok..I am a part-time detailer at a shop... so..

1. Take a peice of steel wook
2. Put some wheel cleaner on it
3. rub in vigorously
4. use wax and wax it.. take wax of... and you got new tips!!


Paul

seviz@aol.com

 

I just use stainless steel cleaner.
;-)

 

Same here, not sure I would use "steel wool" [sm=yikesomg.gif]

 

Best stuff i ever used was a chrome cleaner made by the same company that makes Turtle Wax

 

i havent cleaned my tips since the day i got the car, i think once i get it back from the shop, itll be the first thing i do

 

I use Mothers Metal Polish on my stainless tips and it works great!

 

How ofter do you guys have to clean your tips? It seems after a few days (3-5) mine are black again, well the bottom part. I find that kind of fast, considering I don't beat the car up.

 

Our SS tips are clear coated, I use the "metal polish wadding" which is wool soaked with kerosene basically. I wipe Joyces down as needed 2/3 days. I also keep the Jaguar code of ethics... Never let a Jaguar be "dirty"!

 

With previous vehicles, I've crammed tennis ***** into the exhaust pipes and then hit the tips with a 3,000 psi pressure washer when I've already had it out for washing the house or the driveway and front sidewalk or the back deck. I won't drag out and fire up the pressure washer just for doing exhaust tips, though....

 

OK so how do you suggest I approach a car where the tips don't even appear to be stainless anymore but rather a dull grey metal.

This is a northeast car that has seen tons of road salt in the winter etc... I got it for a song at the dealer auction (via a good friend), and have been slowly fixing it up. Now that the weather is nice I want to focus some attention to detailing.

I honesty was considering getting the tips replaced with something new. But I'd be willing to try anything.

George

 

The advise that I got from a high-end detailer that does quite a number of exotics:

Zymol Metal Britework Polish ($30 for 4 wipes) or 0000 or 000 steel wool with water or quick detailer as a lube. Not wanting to pay $8 per pop, I've have been using the 000 wool on the brushed SS pipes on my STR and the chrome tips on the other cars for years without any signs of wear.

 

George, I have found most of the chrome or SS has been either clear coated or anodized. You can try a yellow can of Easy Off oven cleaner. Warm the tips up by running motor 2/3 minutes, spray only the tips, using blue masking tape tape off surrounding area, wipe down with 000 steel wool. Wear rubber gloves, due to the caustic acids! May take a couple of tries. The oven cleaner will remove any anodizing or clear coat. Polish with SS cleaner.

 

I used Brasso and a cloth since the chrome is slightly perished, so nothing more vigourous than that. The rest of the time saop and water when the rest of the car is being cleaned.

 

Stainless steel tips here....From day one, anytime the car is washed the tips are too...after all they are part of the vehicle. TheN again I always do the door shuts, boot and bonnet and under the bonnet too. Really doesn't take that long!

As for cleaning them when really bad? Try very fine steel wool / brillo pad coupled with plenty of elbow grease. Once the worst is off I use Autosol metal polish with some 800 grit wet n dry and just keep going over n over them until extra shiny. Once you've got them there you can wax them I guess, although as I wash mine EVERY time the car is washed they really don't need it IMO.

 

+1...sold at autozone for 10 bucks and it works amazing

 

I have been afraid to use steel wool on my mina exhaust so I strictly use never-dull. it's much like whats described in an earlier post, basically wadding soaked in a kerosene based cleaner. it takes some time and elbow grease if you are not on top of polishing them up at each wash!

 

I use Peek polish. It works well on stainless and brushed aluminum. I use Mothers for chrome. It works well just stay on top of it. For a first time clean I have used hand rubbing compound.

 

+1 That's what i use as well.

 

Great on chrome tips!