Success with cleaning headers

brighton911 · 08:32 AM

I recently acquired a set of BB headers and muffler. The construction is all stainless, the good stuff too. The price was right but the head pipes were not pretty to say the least. I did my research on cleaning stainless and Pickling Paste seemed to be the ticket. The stuff is a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in a gel form. It can cause very serious burns so for safety sake, work outside, have water by your side and have all your appropriate personal protective equipment on. Actually, I found the stuff no biggy in terms of fumes etc. but I was careful. It is applied with a brush and a thick layer is recommended. First application had the rust like scale on the head pipes fizzing quite a bit. My theory is the rusty deposit is iron spinoff from the rear rotors (during braking) sticking to the head pipes causes the buildup. After an hour working time, (it was cool out), a rinse and a light scrubbing with a green scotch pad and the deposits were coming off nicely. Two more applications and scrubs and I was happy with the result. Pickling Paste is not cheap, $70 for 2 kg. and you can find it at your local welding supply place. I only used about a little more than a 1/3 of the jar so not too bad. If it matters to you, don't put the PP on shiny stainless, it will dull it. Here are the before and after shots:

jamesjedi · 03-29-2018, 04:19 PM

Wow! What a difference. The label says that it is a nasty chemical.

SalParadise · 03-29-2018, 04:37 PM

Were those the ones on eBay that went for $36?

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesjedi

Wow! What a difference. The label says that it is a nasty chemical.

It's nasty, but on the upside acid is your friend.

Nice job.

I use the stuff in the pic below for wheels. It eats deeply embedded brake dust like I can eat M&Ms and peanut butter ice cream.

Spray bottle, dilute 75 water 25 acid mix, flowing water hose nearby, hit it, let it set for five seconds, scrubber of your choice. Rinse repeat. Flood with water to finish.

Flood hands to rinse. Don't touch your junk, ever. Edit: smarter people than me say wear gloves.

SalParadise · 03-29-2018, 04:39 PM

Bob can you use that stuff on Magnesium as well?

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by SalParadise

Bob can you use that stuff on Magnesium as well?

I am sure you can. Saw a website where a higher end shop used this stuff to clean aluminum 911 cases split in half.

It does not eat the metal if you get it off in a reasonable period of time.

I think brightons stuff or my stuff would work on most any metal. It chows on the loose stuff with a vengeance. Shiny machined metal, it will dull if left for a while.

Also, the brake dust I spoke of removing, it was on aluminum wheels with clear coat.

Get it on, scrub, get it off with water flood.

I bought it at a semi truck supply house. About $30 for the gallon. A 300 year supply for the diy guy.

Lots of ZEP products at Home Depot. Detergents, etc. I don't see it there, though.

Trackrash · Trackrash's Garage

It will eat magnesium. Probably OK to use it briefly, then wash it off.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackrash

It will eat magnesium. Probably OK to use it briefly, then wash it off.

Absolutely. It will eat anything with time. Including my brother's fingers, but that's another thread.

Get it on. Scrub. Rinse with extreme prejudice.

Lyle O · Lyle O's Garage

Looks great. From there, you can easily get to a high gloss finish with 1000-2000-3000 grit sanding discs. They will polish up nicely.

mepstein · 03-29-2018, 06:49 PM

I would rinse with water and baking soda. Neutralize everything.

stownsen914 · 03-29-2018, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I use the stuff in the pic below for wheels. It eats deeply embedded brake dust like I can eat M&Ms and peanut butter ice cream.

Spray bottle, dilute 75 water 25 acid mix, flowing water hose nearby, hit it, let it set for five seconds, scrubber of your choice. Rinse repeat. Flood with water to finish.

So this stuff dissolves the caked on brake dust that I have nightmares (and busted knuckles) from? This might be the find of the month ...

brighton911 · 03-30-2018, 02:39 AM

Bob, thanks for the tip on another effective cleaner. Looks like Zep a Lume has been dropped by HD and others as well. It's getting harder all the time to buy any acids, misuse by bad people is probably the reason.

Dave

T77911S · 03-30-2018, 02:44 AM

what else that works great and is not a extreme is mcguires CHROME wheel cleaner.

those look pretty bad and not sure if this would help those but or chrome that is not that bad it works really well.

with wheels you have to remember most are painted with a clear coat.

SalParadise · 03-30-2018, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mepstein

I would rinse with water and baking soda. Neutralize everything.

Probably the very smart move.

Tippy · 03-30-2018, 05:09 AM

Seriously impressed with the results!

Looks fantastic!

I used Bar Keepers Friend, and a lot of elbow grease with scotch-brite pads and didn't get the same results as yours throughout the entire header due to cramped nooks and crannies. Where I could, it was a nice lustery silver.

911tracker85 · 03-30-2018, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Also, the brake dust I spoke of removing, it was on aluminum wheels with clear coat.

I made the mistake, due to suggestion from a friend, and used Hawk Blue pads on my DE 951.

went through the set of pads and they ate the rotors to the point of having to replace. new rotors and now using Pagid Yellow.

but I have been trying stuff for over a year to get the crusted brake dust off of the rims. being careful as they are uncoated, polished alum. but at the point of getting more aggressive. will re-polish when finally clean.

'78 SC · '78 SC's Garage

If Bob says Zep-a-Lume works and can be safely used I believe him. But be advised it contains some serious corrosives.

I'm ok with naval jelly (phosphoric acid) and battery acid (sulfuric acid), but personally, I wouldn't get close to anything with HF.

Be safe out there.

extracted from MSDS:
SULFURIC ACID; oil of vitriol 7664-93-9 10-20 %
HYDROFLUORIC ACID ; hydrogen fluoride;hydrofluoride 7664-39-3 5-10%
PHOSPHORIC ACID 7664-38-2 <5 %

complete MSDS:
http://www.unitedsuppliers.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=cWS5uFFnBeM%3D&tabid=78&mid=581&forcedownload=true

964TargaC2 · 03-30-2018, 06:46 AM

I use Oven Cleaner on stainless..

Barrpete · 03-30-2018, 06:56 AM

Hydrofluoric acid is indeed nasty stuff. DO NOT get any of it on your skin. If you do, rinsing it off may not be sufficient. HF can migrate through skin and attack bones. If you're going to work with it have some of this on hand.
https://www.amazon.com/Calgonate-Calcium-Gluconate-2-5-Tube/dp/B008YGHVOK/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1522421486&sr=8-3&keywords=calcium+gluconate+gel

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by '78 SC

If Bob says Zep-a-Lume works and can be safely used I believe him. But be advised it contains some serious corrosives.

Safely with mentioned precautions.

My brother was playing with the diluted mixture on the back of his alloy wheels for a couple of minutes. I think I had it cut 50-50. Wrinkled his finger tip skin pronto.

It's not as vicious as muratic acid but it's vicious.

Edit: Here is a thread I started in 2014 about it. I would start at a 90-10 ratio and see how it works. I know 25-33% acid works but all of the caveats scare me.

I also did the wheel cleaning on chrome wheels not clear coated wheels. Getting old.

Zep A-Lume - Insight?