Cleaning downpipes

[leevtr]

I might give my downpipes a good clean soon, as I have 4 of the buggers and they're right in the firing line of all the road crap. Plus theyre a bit discoloured. No rust though.

Who's done it, what did they use, and how were the results.

Ta.

[tony.mon]

Do the gutters first, wasting your time otherwise.
And brush the lichen and moss off the roof before that.

[agentpineapple]

I used wet n dry with some soapy water, then polished them up with autosol, and lastly gave them a little spray of gt85.....
you can go to town using clay bars, but I couldn't be arsed.

[simo]

WD40 and Scotchbright

[lloydie]

WD40 and Scotchbright

+1 then autosol

[lanny]

Try using Pickling Paste on the downpipes. Available from welding supply outlets or better still and cheaper, have you got a welder mate?
Be very careful and read the instructions on skin, eyes paint, plastic etc as its powerful stuff
You literally brush it on, leave for 5-10mins, wash off and thats ya done!

Gets rid of weld burn, blemishes, and other crap without the rubbing, and polisshing for hours with AUTOSOL & WIREWOOL.
Wonder wheels is also very good.

If anyone's interested, I got it from here! or other welding supply shops.
http://www.elmerwallace.co.uk/details.asp?ID=46

[Flatline]

Do the gutters first, wasting your time otherwise.
And brush the lichen and moss off the roof before that.

LMFSO

[Dr B1G]

Try using Pickling Paste on the downpipes. Available from welding supply outlets or better still and cheaper, have you got a welder mate?
Be very careful and read the instructions on skin, eyes paint, plastic etc as its powerful stuff
You literally brush it on, leave for 5-10mins, wash off and thats ya done!

Gets rid of weld burn, blemishes, and other crap without the rubbing, and polisshing for hours with AUTOSOL & WIREWOOL.
Wonder wheels is also very good.

If anyone's interested, I got it from here! or other welding supply shops.
http://www.elmerwallace.co.uk/details.asp?ID=46

If this works like you say, it'll be just what im looking for!
Thx m8

[Diabolus]

going to do mine . Great tips. once cleaned how often does it need doing ?

[lloydie]

going to do mine . Great tips. once cleaned how often does it need doing ?

if you ride in the rain then often very often but if dry miles only then once a year ..
mine are a dark copper colour now and i only polished them a month or two ago .

[Diabolus]

going to do mine . Great tips. once cleaned how often does it need doing ?

if you ride in the rain then often very often but if dry miles only then once a year ..
mine are a dark copper colour now and i only polished them a month or two ago .

thats better than the hot chocolate froth colour of mine !

[agentpineapple]

i did mine and on the very next ride it pissed down, when i went out to the bike the next day, the headers were already going a copper colour....
but a little bit of wet n dry brings them back to silvery goodness easy enough....

[sirch345]

Do the gutters first, wasting your time otherwise.
And brush the lichen and moss off the roof before that.

that appealed to me seeing I'm in the building trade,

Leevtr, back to the original question, have at look at my downpipes (headers) here:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... pit+polish


and here's a pic to give you some enthusiasm



Agentpineapple is right they do go a goldie coppery colour very quickly, but I like the look and find a wipe over with a cloth soaked in WD40 now and again helps keeping them that way,

Chris.

[darkember]

Do the gutters first, wasting your time otherwise.
And brush the lichen and moss off the roof before that.

that appealed to me seeing I'm in the building trade,

Leevtr, back to the original question, have at look at my downpipes (headers) here:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... pit+polish


and here's a pic to give you some enthusiasm



Agentpineapple is right they do go a goldie coppery colour, but I find a wipe over with a cloth soaked in WD40 help keeping them that way

Hummmm those really look like they have just been bought brand new. If not how long did that take & could I send mine over to you to get them done

[sirch345]

Read all about how I did them in the link I posted

Great minds must think a like in asking me to do your headers, see the link

Chris.