Started off with Harpic. moved to autosol and microfibre which didn’t cut it. Then went at it with an abrasive wirewool and autosol directionally. Finished up with a microfibre and autosol for shine. (I was going to use my drill and a polish pad but the pad broke after minutes). Much swearing and sweat involved.
thanks hun. Had to double check what photo I’d uploaded. i really want to say that I’ll be doing the flanges, but I’m not going to lie… I can’t be assed
fortunately i like the golden brown. having said that, a matt/brushed stainless would be ok too. not keen on polished stainless/chrome. do you have a photo after the harpic, please? wondering whether the hydrochloric acid in the cleaner leaves an uniform colour, or streaky finish that need further work with with abrasive pads and/or polish
I don’t. But… I can say this, the Harpic doesn’t remove everything and you need to get it off otherwise you’ll end up with surface rust. if you like Matt, carry out the process up to wirewool and autosol directionally. That’s essentially the finish you get from that and it removes what the Harpic doesn’t. I’m not mad on shiny either, but it’ll gold up after a heat cycle
shame you used Harpic on them, it's fairly widely proven to be less than ideal. It contains chemicals that effectively strip the 'Stainless' part of 'stainless steel out of the metals, so basically it will just look much worse much quicker. Don't shoot the messenger, but I hope they stay looking good, and if it's a track bike you may well find you have got rid of them before they look rough again.
first time I’ve heard that to be fair, although thinking about it, it doesn’t surprise me. Mine have always stayed looking good though. Wipe down with wd40 now and then and they’ve looked mint!
As this is the Ducati forum. This was my 1299. initially done: after a year or so: uniform goldeness, mmmmmm
Nice shine Adam. Are you mainly doing Eu next year or UK? PS how does the shine hold up after a peppering of gravel?
The inevitability of it all. I’m used to it by now mate (the gravel that is) ha! The Honda held up alright, and that thing became one with the kitty litter! Not sure yet, works manic and I’ve got a load on my plate next year. Hoping to get the odd euro in, but it’s most likely looking at U.K. days as it stands..
Only because people leave it on for far too long or let it dry on, if you just let take the surface crud off and then wash it off it’s fine.
As an option for lazy people who don't like shinny, if you send for sand blasting (as they do before powder coating) they come back very clean in a sort of satin. I paid £10 for an entire exhaust down my local place a few years back.
