Suggestions for removing paint from pipes?

[peabody11]

My Midnight Special has flat black paint on the exhaust headers. It used to have the paint on the entire original exhaust, but I have scraped it off with lacquer thinner and a rag. This won't work as well on the headers. Anyone have any suggestions? I have removed enough paint to see the beautiful black finish on the pipes, but my fingernails can't remove it all!

[IanDMacDonald]

Aircraft remover

[mack]

Removing paint

you could try acetone. Try some on someplace you can't see easily and see how it reacts to the black chrome. It's noxious so make sure your outside and don't put your face too close so your breathing it. Should work pretty quick on the paint. Can't vouch for how the chrome will react to it.

[skids]

Paint stripper?

[jetmechmarty]

MEK is cheap enough to try. Wear gloves. Do it outside wear you don't have to suck the fumes. I like it better than acetone.

[James England]

Trichloroethylene, aka 'trike', will do it. I use it a lot for removing paint and it will even take powder coating off...

[jetmechmarty]

James,
I can buy paint stripper that has that stuff in it, but I can't seem to find it straight up. I tried removing a tank liner with it and failed. It made a mess though. Paint stripper could be just the ticket in this case.

[mrhammer2u]

What look are you going for? Planning to pain them again? This may drive the conversation a different direction.

If you still want to strip, ...for the time and money you'll spend, you may want to consider a used set of headers from ebay.

[peabody11]

I am just trying to get the flat black paint off. Of course, it is well baked on, but I am just trying to get it off without damaging the black finish beneath it. I would not hesitate to use stripper or acetone, etc if it was a chrome pipe underneath. I will try all of these suggestions on an inconspicuous place and let you know...but I am definitely not repainting them, and don't want to replace them. Thanks again boys!

[donebysunday]

Don't know if it's the same type of black chrome finish but I wanted to strip the paint that was on top of the black chrome on the MNS front fender. I used air craft paint stripper and it not only took off the paint but also removed the black chrome right down to nice clean metal. So then I repainted the fender with acrylic enamel and it turned out real nice. I posted with a pic what I want to try next (2000°) header flat black and then went over that with (2000°) clear, looked good but not tested in use. Wish I could remember what post I showed that in ? Found it, here is an old pipe adaptor 1/2 in the flat black 1/2 in the flat black and clear on top (both 2000° Duplicolor).

I put a MAC 4-2 tapper muff set on my LH, now the set I had on it with the stock standard head pipes and dunstall reps. will be painted with Duplicolor 1300-2000° flat black and over that the same but clear. I think you can see the flat on the left and then cleared over on the rt.

Guess it will be and experiment and I will need to blast the entire set including the muffs. $8.99 per can, now to find a blaster and the media you suggested, $ ?

[cajun31]

Hey Done

Good to see you posting more after your mishap. Hope you are doing well. Saw your post concerning your front fender on your 81. You referred to the paint underneath as black chrome.... it never was black chrome but painted new Yamaha black. From my understanding of that original paint it was actually layered coats of "new Yamaha black paint" and clear ... buffing ... more black... more clear etc.... you get the picture.... however any good paint stripper would easily strip that paint off to bear metal as you described happening.
Peabody...
The actual black chrome finish may be a bit tougher, however I would still be cautious using strippers on it if the intent is to preserve that finish. If I were guessing though I would presume that the reason those pipes were painted in the first place is because the black chrome finish was not pristine or desirable. It simply did not hold up well over time and unless properly stored and cared for originally slowly degraded over time. The most prevalent problem being pitting in the finish from exposure to the elements. Hopefully I am wrong in this case and you will find treasure underneath that paint.

By the way food for thought... the original instructions for care of these pipes was to never use abrasives in cleaning them. Good luck with them.

[donebysunday]

Thanks Jim,
That black on the MNS bars, fenders, head light ears etc. seemed to be more resistant than paint to some things but not as durable as chrome to the weather/pitting and such, all most like it had the pits in it from the factory ?
Wonder what they used on the exhaust as it seems to have the same faults ?
Is there really black chrome ? If so how durable is it ?

[peabody11]

The aircraft stripper is doing the job. Some of it comes off with a follow-up wipe of lacquer thinner, but most of it has to be scraped with a plastic scraper. Even then it is slow going with multiple stripper applications. Now to find a plastic scraper that does not melt from the stripper.... Metal scratches the black chrome. Yes, there is some corrosion on the pipes, but most of it is good. That may be why they were painted in the first place. But the whole bike was rattle can painted flat black. Straight lacquer thinner dissolved most of the flat paint on the frame, fenders, and tank, without damaging the original paint!! DO NOT use stripper on those finishes....try the lacquer thinner first. Soak a rag with it and lay the rag on the surface to be stripped for a few minutes and the paint below should bubble-up and go soft. It does not harm the original paint! Black chrome reminds me of blueing on guns. Anyone want to try a cold blueing kit on chrome to see if it makes the black chrome???? Hot blueing might be what Yamaha did originally?