Was wondering if someone with a keen eye or knowledge could tell me what metal the exhaust flange (red arrows) and header collars (green) Its a stainless steel akrapovic exhaust system for a 600RR. I managed to get some headers second hand to make my slip on a full system but want to polish it up before i install it. I'm pretty sure the flanges are Aluminium, but not sure on the collars...stainless, titanium or i doubt aluminium? Thanks in Advance
The flanges look like aluminium and the collars look like stainless. Best bet is to ask the manufacturer or supplier. Alloy is a lot lighter than stainless and grey oxide coloured.
surface of flange is deffo cast alloy wont be pure aluminium as too soft. NaOH will clean then right up but go steady with it. The collars it just stainless is heat cast color on it..... probable 304 grade i believe its the chromium withing the stainless mix that cause it. but nothing to worry about. 430 doesn't usual discolor however it does rust and inst half as good a 304.
Thanks guys I plan on using a polishing wheel and the right type of compound to polish everything up which is why i wanted to know what material each of those bits were. Thought the collars could be titanium as they didnt discolour no where near as much as the rest of the headers. These are just the images the guy sent me, still waiting for them in the post
nar not ti they would have blued by now. ti usual feels warmer that stainless when you touch the two at same time.
Akrapovic don't use normal grade of steels or alloys they have there own foundry and make all the materials in house! you do in this case get what you pay for, they make the materials and all the tube! Materials They do talk of the types of steels but Ive read in depth from the akrapovic magazine that its a little like Mr Kipplings pies! I.e only they know what goes in! But in short for the most of us, a type of inox stainless steel with billet alloy flanges. you gotto love Igor Akrapovic, they don't mess around! Ive polished many Akra systems both Ti and SS, they polish like a mirror! Ti SS Did a Matt finish Termi last week..
Oh Arthur, you've just made my day!!! Didnt expect them to polish up to brand new! Thats amazing!! Did you use any special compounds or tools? I purchased a cheap bench grinder/polisher conversion kit that people have used to do the same thing you have shown which i hope will make the job much easier! Also, how easy was it to remove the bluing? This was my biggest concern! Thanks
Yep wax soaps and a mop, faster the better as it needs heat to melt the wax and release the compound onto the work, most normal drills etc dont have the power to create the heat, sadly I like the blue/factory look but people pay to have them shiny...lol It's not an easy job! Yes the stainless is easy to work with over Ti and you can get stainless like a mirror! Good hay, shame I HATE doing them... For help and gear check out thepolishingshop.co.uk
Can't wait!! I brought my complete kit from Polishing Kits | Polishing Mops | Polishing Kit | Metal Polishing Supplies UK Ltd who are great and very helpful, but will check out your site too, thanks! I too love the bluing effect, but i dont like the rusty oxidised look currently on the pipe, so will polish it up and start again
Arthur, could i ask how you got a matt finish on the Termi end cap? I'm contemplating a full mirror finish or the matt finsih to match the titanium end can? Cheers
