How can I get this gunk off?

[CB1000]

SO I told you guys I was restoring my old 94 Honda right? Well I go to look at the Exhaust pipes and I see a LOT of what looks like baked on dirt and other stuff.

Here is a picture.



I used oven cleaner which seemed to work somewhat on the easy stuff, but the baked on oxidized stuff wont budge. Can I remove these, and soak them in a solution or something over night? Or should I leave it?

[EatSomeIron]

could it be rust?

try and soak some WD-40 on it, and use something abrasive (steel wool or the like) to get some off and see what underneath.

[CB1000]

I know it is Chrome or stainless steel. I am going to use steel wool and vinegar (my father said to try that.) I was able to use a fine grit sand paper to get through it, though it took forever, and I can see chrome underneath.

[AlmostThere]

What would Naval Jelly do? Naval Jelly is awesome on rust but I don't know what it would do to the finish.

[tazzmadness]

as eatsomeiron said try to get some off to see whats underneath try some fine emory paper to get some off

[CB1000]

Its chrome. However, I don't want the chrome any more, it is all sorts of weathered and beat up. I plan on removing the rust and doing my own paint job.

This is what Naval Jelly is:

Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used as a "rust converter", by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces. The phosphoric acid converts reddish-brown iron(III) oxide (rust) to black ferric phosphate, FePO4.
"Rust converter" is sometimes a greenish liquid suitable for dipping (in the same sort of acid bath as is used for pickling metal), but it is more often formulated as a gel, commonly called naval jelly. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces.
After treatment, the black ferric-phosphate coating can be scrubbed off, leaving a fresh metal surface. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The black phosphate coating can also be left in place, where it will provide moderate further corrosion resistance. (Such protection is also provided by the superficially similar Parkerizing and blued electrochemical conversion coating processes.)

Source: Google

It says not to use it on stainless steel. Would it be safe?

[AlmostThere]

I've used Naval Jelly for years. I don't know of a better rust remover. Apply a layer, let it sit for a relatively short time, rinse off the rust with water. If I didn't care about the finish, it would be my first weapon of choice. All that and it's pretty inexpensive.

[CB1000]

Thanks a million. Where can I get Naval Jelly?

[tazzmadness]

amazon.com -- sell it just type in naval jelly

[AlmostThere]

Originally Posted by CB1000

Thanks a million. Where can I get Naval Jelly?

You can get it anywhere. Walmart, HomeDepot, Lowes. Container will be about the size of a small mason jar and the product will be pink. I don't think I've ever seen NJ that wasn't pink. The container will be well under 10 bucks and will last you a LONG time. If you've got rust you want gone, well worth the money.

[CB1000]

Worked like a charm, but it is actually the steel that bubbled up. That being the case, I am simply going to paint over it. I mean, what else can I do?

[rexmitchell]

Glad it worked for you, I was going to recommend using nevrdull if that didn't work. Could you sand down the bubbles and polish that part out?

[CB1000]

I doubt I will be able to do that by hand. Should I use a dremmel or something similar?

[iamjustifyd]

I was thinking about painting my headers black. Stripping off the chrome, black high temp paint with some clear coat. Any ideas how that would hold up?