Enter your username:
Do you want to login or register?
  • Forgot your password?

    Login / Register



    Results 1 to 12 of 12
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      NJ
      Posts
      1,293
      Country Flag: United States

      How to get that brushed look on stainless headers...

      I've been looking online on ways to "brush" stainless tubing.

      Is all you need is a Scotchbrite pad and some WD-40 and brush in one direction?

      Anyone done this and have any input or pics?

      I have this pic from one of DSE's builds. I like the way it looks and would attempt this on my stainless Hooker headers.

      I know they probably grind all the welds smooth so it looks like one continuous tube, I'm not going to go that far, I'd just like to give it that brushed look.

      Thanks!

      Here's a link to the pic of DSE's work.

      https://flic.kr/p/29wMWnJ
      Last edited by John McIntire; 12-22-2018 at 11:54 AM. Reason: edit link

    2. #2
      Join Date
      Apr 2008
      Posts
      4
      cs unitec makes the belts for graining tubing. FYI it's NOT going to stay looking grained very long if you run the engine.

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      NJ
      Posts
      1,293
      Country Flag: United States
      Any other input on this? It doesn't bother me if I lose the "grain" look, I'd just like it to be uniform in color. I kinda like how they look a little bronze color after a few heat cycles. I'm not trying to preserve the stainless color.

      Thanks!

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Apr 2012
      Location
      NC
      Posts
      165
      Country Flag: United States
      I built some equal length (primaries) Try-Y headers and brushed finished them. If the tubing is fairly scratch free, and depending on how good you want them to look, red scotch-brite will do the job without WD-40. The tubing will retain the brushed look but will discolor from heat. If the tubes are scratched or marred from forming, sand with some 180 or 220 grit, then red scotch-brite.

      Name:  KIMG0023.jpg
Views: 661
Size:  286.7 KB

      If you want to achieve a better finish (which will be a waste of time on headers IMO) you can buff the tubes then go back over them with grey or white scotch-brite to give them a deeper luster. My exhaust tips were brushed in this fashion and have a uniform look to them.

      Name:  KIMG0181.jpg
Views: 615
Size:  174.3 KB

      The key to all this is to go in the same direction.

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Apr 2007
      Location
      Greeley, CO
      Posts
      395
      Country Flag: United States
      It isn't very expensive to coat them in pretty much whatever color you want. It will help under the hood with temps and it should last a long time too! I think the company I used told me it was $175 to do full length headers. I know it wasn't what you were asking about but just something I thought I'd throw out there.

      [/attach]Name:  20180926_160537_1537999568437[1].jpg
Views: 732
Size:  229.5 KBName:  20180926_155057_1537998907590[1].jpg
Views: 626
Size:  478.7 KB

      Matt H.


    6. #6
      Join Date
      Mar 2015
      Posts
      96
      Country Flag: United States
      Don't grind the welds down. You won't have any reinforcement left if you do.

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Sep 2017
      Posts
      825
      Country Flag: United States
      Whose mid lengths are those in the above photo?
      TANKMASTERJ
      https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...touring-Camaro
      Jasons Toys
      67 Camaro White Lightning LMR LS7 powered, Speed tech Front and Rear.
      2023 Rapid Blue ZL1 the Blue Devil
      2000 HD Softail
      1989 CBR Hurricane anniversary edition

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Apr 2007
      Location
      Greeley, CO
      Posts
      395
      Country Flag: United States
      Tankmasterj,

      It has been so long since I bought them I had to dig out the receipt. They are Hedman 45060. I paid $349.97 from Summit back in 2014. They show them for $357.99 now. The picture on Summits website is wrong.
      Matt H.

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Sep 2017
      Posts
      825
      Country Flag: United States
      Yours on a first gen with stock sub and chicane conversion?
      TANKMASTERJ
      https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...touring-Camaro
      Jasons Toys
      67 Camaro White Lightning LMR LS7 powered, Speed tech Front and Rear.
      2023 Rapid Blue ZL1 the Blue Devil
      2000 HD Softail
      1989 CBR Hurricane anniversary edition

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Sep 2017
      Posts
      825
      Country Flag: United States
      And how do you like the mods versus long tubes?
      TANKMASTERJ
      https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...touring-Camaro
      Jasons Toys
      67 Camaro White Lightning LMR LS7 powered, Speed tech Front and Rear.
      2023 Rapid Blue ZL1 the Blue Devil
      2000 HD Softail
      1989 CBR Hurricane anniversary edition

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Apr 2007
      Location
      Greeley, CO
      Posts
      395
      Country Flag: United States
      Correct. Those pictures are from before I switched subframes. It had a stock subframe with a hybrid Chicane/Detroit Speed coilover bracket. I was able to tuck 2.5" exhaust exactly even to the bottom of the subframe. It also had rack and pinion steering. Had to very slightly ding a tube for the steering shaft so I only used two u-joints. If I would have used the "big block" steering shaft kit (3 u-joints) there would have been a lot more clearance. The car now has a Speedtech pro-touring subframe and they still fit, using the same small ding in the tube for clearance. I think the engine sits lower in the new subframe because my exhaust now hangs about half an inch below the sub. If I hadn't coated my entire exhaust before the change I would have rebuilt the exhaust to tuck up a little higher. I was honestly just looking for an inexpensive brand name header when I bought these. I think they fit well considering they weren't designed for steering shaft clearance.
      Matt H.

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Sep 2017
      Posts
      825
      Country Flag: United States
      I've got the Speedtech pro touring as well.
      Wanting to use KOOKS because they do the D Port Ls7 flanges. But so far no one can seem to tell me if there mids or long tubes is guaranteed fit. Tick performance has long tube kook's and a kook's special dirty dingo mount. But it's only guaranteed to fit a stock sub.
      Everyone tells me go ultimate from Speedtech or Holley. Ultimate does not do the D Port Flange although they say it don't matter.
      Several engine guys say it shrouds the valves.
      I'm torn
      TANKMASTERJ
      https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...touring-Camaro
      Jasons Toys
      67 Camaro White Lightning LMR LS7 powered, Speed tech Front and Rear.
      2023 Rapid Blue ZL1 the Blue Devil
      2000 HD Softail
      1989 CBR Hurricane anniversary edition





    Advertise on Pro-Touring.com