Removing Swirls from Borla Exhaust Tips

[Nopstnz8]

Hey guys... I have a Borla exhaust with 3" tips and after a week with some spirited driving thrown in, my tips get all black and will have baked on exhaust soot residue that can only be removed with steel wool, grade 000 followed by grade 0000, then finished with Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish to bring back the shine. They look great after, but obviously the steel wool has left them covered in swirls, which really bugs me. Is it possible to wetsand the tips with like 1000 grit followed by 2000, then buff with mag and aluminum? I'd rather have slight lines than swirls all over. Also, inside the tips, I can't seem to get all the baked on soot out even after grade 000 steel wool, so I'm assuming wetsanding should do the trick? Also, if I were to wetsand, do I have to worry about them oxidizing?

Lastly, is there an alternative method to keep them clean and not have to resort to abrasives so often? I've been doing spirited driving almost weekly recently, and it seems like I have to bust out the steel wool every week, and I don't want to risk going too far and removing the finish over time if that's even possible?

What about M105 by hand? I because of the design of the rear bumper on the Rx8, I can only use a drill and Mother's powerball on the insides(when I'm home since I don't have a drill here at school, and the outsides can really only be done by hand.

[Nopstnz8]

Anyone? This was pretty much what I had in mind...

How To Polish Your Cat Back Exhaust

[Black99miata]

I am no expert, but I am wondering if instead of abrasive removal, it might be better to try something chemical that would disolve or at least dislodge the crud. How about soaking it with wheel cleaner or something along those lines? I assume they are stainless? Perhaps a good stainless cleaner woud work - try Home Depot. I got one there that was real good for the stainless grill. Not sure why you should have to resort to polishing the crud off.... Once clean, put something on them to protect them and not let the stuff attach iteself so securely. Not sure what LSP you use, but get a sacrificial surface on them to allow easy removal.

[TOGWT]

Flitz Aluminum Pre-Clean – an organic salt formula, safer than traditional acids and will not ‘grey’ the aluminium. Instantly removes heavily-encrusted corrosion, rapidly dissolves built-up oxidation, rust, calcium, lime, tarnish, grease, oil and water stains, these contaminants can interfere with the performance of your metal polish and contribute to scratches, it will not dull or haze aluminium. Can be applied with quad zero (#0000) synthetic wool or preferably brass

a) Menzerna Polishing Cream is a blend of cleaning agents, lubricants, and proprietary ingredients that brings out a dazzling shine on all types of metal; chrome, aluminium, magnesium, copper, stainless steel, fiberglass, and other unpainted plastics. Menzerna Polishing Cream is nonabrasive and gentle on all your vehicle’s metal surfaces.

b) P21S® Finish Restorer - this is a polishing product to refine a cleaned finish as opposed to cleaning, it’s formulated to polish - for any metal or plastic surface with or without a clear coat that is faded, oxidized, water marked, burnt, and dirty or built up with brake dust.