Stupid idea - can I repolish Stainless Steel header pipe?

[ohiorider]

I've been running the wheels off the R100GS any time we've had a nice day.  Just noticed yesterday where a small oil leak, most likely from either a banjo bolt connection or worn out oil line to the cooler allowed oil to drip onto the right side header pipe.  That stuff was baked on.

I didn't consider that trying to remove it with a 3M green pad would scuff up about 7-8" of header pipe, but it did. 

A friend thought I might be able, with the proper polish, to restore the header.

Any thoughts, aside from wondering what the hell I was thinking?

Bob

[bikeridertim]

Just a thought,  I use WHITE 3M pads and Mothers Mag Wheel polish on several SS guns I have and it takes all the scratches out... YMMV

[Sheepdog]

The header will polish out. The job is easier and will look better if you remove the header and polish it on a table-mounted powered cotton buffing wheel. Polishing kits are available at Harbor Freight, or other outlets like it. Look for a polisher with an 8" to 10" wheel.

[BrotherJim]

+1 Sheepdog.  It's a little time-consuming and makes a great winter project.

[JC85]

How well does Mother's work on dull aluminum? I'm going to try polishing up my valve covers, soon, rather than chroming them. I have some solid compounds lying around, but am curious if mother's would do a better, worse, or comparable job.

[canuck750]

Yes stainless headers will polish out but as soon as you run the motor again the stainless will take on a gold colour.

[Don G]

get a tube of Solvol Autosol metal polish, works well on Stainless and Aluminium, can be bought at most auto parts stores,  DonG

[pete mcgee]

What sheepdog said.
My staintune exhaust has been repolished with good results 3 time over the last 30 years.

[Ncdan]

If you can get to it you can get a cotton polishing wheel that will go in a drill. Get a stick of jewelers  Rouge and watch the scratches go away or be less noticeable. Good luck.

[tazio]

Yes stainless headers will polish out but as soon as you run the motor again the stainless will take on a gold colour.

"Gold pipes save lives"   

[MarkMk]

I use pickling paste, similar to this to remove heat discoloration from my little LSR bike, the pipes were made from mandrel bends designed for handrail manufacture, this paste is also used to clean the welded areas & the associated discoloration, then buffed with green grade buffing sticks, and a cotton buffing wheel 
https://www.hampdon.com.au/Able-Inox-Stainless-Steel-Pickling-Cleaning-Paste-500g

[chuck peterson]

I do believe head pipes have leapt another order of magnitude with this example..well at least in this neighborhood....... ...

[xackley]

https://www.amazon.com/Eastwood-Polishing-Detailing-Different-Compounds/dp/B07PRT38QN/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1HV9L4B124OHJ&keywords=metal+buffing+polishing+kit&qid=1554952396&s=gateway&sprefix=metal+buffing+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-6

Something like this will work for all your metal polishing needs. Plug in drill required, battery operated are too slow, unless you have tons of patience.