Best way to clean rust from exhaust?

Yeah Rae, take a look at that bottle, that looks like it worked pretty damn good!

Even after I allowed to cure for a week and than baking at a lower than exhaust temperature it did this. Obviously it started out a bit slower but this is only after about 800 miles of riding.

Here is another picture. I do not like or trust the VHT. Mine said good to 2000*f

We used Rust Kutter by Clean Strip after heavy sanding then Purple Power de-ruster we picked up at Advanced Auto. No rust left on them at all!!!!! So far we have about 12 hours of prep alone in them (mostly the hubby, but I helped too!)

Mine was blasted with Garnett media. There was not a spec of rust anywhere. The rust you see is what has developed after the fact. The VHT started bubbling almost immediately and pealing soon after that.

Damn Otto that SUX!!!! I think I'll cry if mine do that, but praying maybe I'll have better luck!? :dry:

otakar wrote:

I used VHT on my headers last year. I first primed them and than painted them black. That lasted about 2 rides. This year I am going to have them Ceramic coated and it will last for ever.

Maybe the primer wasn't hi-temp and bubbled up through the VHT.

I used Hi-Temp from AutoZone without using any primer, and the finish has lasted very well over the past several years on old originally chrome Kerker headers that Muratic acid was brushed on, water rinsed, dried, and sprayed with rattle-can flat black hi-temp from AutoZone.

Looked for hi-temp primer also, but wasn't on the shelf, so just skipped any primer.

Ceramic coated should be very durable and look really nice. Superior to any paint.

Good Fortune!

The primer and paint were a matching set. The gray primer was also VHT.

Oh My Goodness! My headers look cool as shit!! :woohoo:
I am soooo going to cry like the girl that I am if they screw up like Otto mentioned! :S Going to put several coats of the VHT satin clear fireproof on over the flat red tonight and "cure" tomorrow! Can't wait to get them back on!

Rae :silly:

ten or so coats of high heat flat paint from an auto store...after lots of steel wool and washings.and sand papers ect...washings...sanding...washing...sanding...then hung it from a tree and hit it with about three cans over about 3-4 days.....lasted a year and then needs little sprays while still on bike around the exhaust bends.....seems to be holding up fine.....lots of coats and hrs of dry time between to ensure it cured between coats...

cheap....worked...just took patience...oh the finish is flat but top notch

the exhuast in the before pic on my bike was probably a shinier black when new...when i got it used ,it was rusting and had uneven areas of surface decay and some pitting,mostly around the heads ex bends and some around where pipes joined up and the undersides ect...i really- really wanted a smooth look it was a terrific header& had no dents or dings...so i just kept changing out the piece of materials i was sanding with...new paper and new steel wool kicks butt... so as soon as it stops shedding rust i toss the piece...even if it seems new /ie/ wasteful...my goal is to reduce the surface and get down to metal smooth,not conserve sandpaper......when i had it smooth and leveled out, to metal in most spots....and could do the "blind mans " pass with my hand.....then i would wash it with soap and water really good and hand dry it blowing air through the nooks and cranies......the end result was a pipe that could pass for excellent condition ...except flat finish......good luck