That is possibly rail dust fallout from transportation, or it could be some form of mild steel cross contamination from manufacturing.
For us on this side of the pond, T-cut is great on stainless tips, it’s cheap, easy to get hold of (pretty much every gas station sells it, even supermarkets) and lasts ages.
Get the original stuff that stinks, it seems to have just the right combination of chemical cleaning to dissolve the burnt on tar and abrasive to polish them up
Oh yeah, even though it was intended for it, never (ever) use it on paint … lol
WD
For the sharp edges :I didn't polish mine, but I smoothed the sharp edges, removed all the underseal overspray (UK car) and applied an even brushed finish :
I suppose for a tip as basic as they are, it's how they should have prepped them from the factory ...
WD
Just the small sanding drum like this :
I used a fine grit and made sure it was pre-used (less aggressive and takes a bit longer, but more forgiving in the case of an error / slip).
It's difficult to get around the tips with the 3M pad but this method works a treat :
The 3M pad will be held on the inside of the gown tie up against the tip and it will give a nice even pattern, that with a bit of manoeuvring can be put all around the tips. The plastics and other tip are also protected from the 3M pad by the outer side of the gown tie.
- Cut your 3M pad (I used the green type) into a 1" strip.
- Get an old dressing gown tie and lay it out flat.
- Place you 1" wide 3M pad on it (it will stick a bit like weak Velcro).
- Flip it all over and warp it in a U shape over the tip.
- Add tension and push / pull the gown tie ends - kind of like one of those street shoe buffer guys polishing the toe section of a shoe.
If have have done a crap job of explaining that just let me know and I will snap a photo - that will make the method very obvious
WD
@wenklaw - I thought you might be interested in this, there is a very distinct difference in the magnetism of the inner and outer tips :
It’s the same on both sides. That magnet is reasonably strong, it was rescued from a kids magnetic dartboard before the misses recycled it.
I know working stainless can alter its magnetism, but there isn’t really any significant change in the forming of the inner and outer tips that could influence that.
The video was pre cleaning, but post cleaning (internal only) with T-Cut on a 3M kitchen pad finishes them like this :
WD
WDI also fixed the tips up - much easier to do off the car (if you truly want to get all around them) :
People have asked before how I have done the brushed finish, this picture should make everything self explanatory :
Important notes :
A) 3M pads seem to last better than the Asda (Walmart) type, but I couldn't find any in time.
B) The repurposed dressing gown cord is very important - you need to source a red superman version just like mine ...
WD
