Gents:

I made my grill this week using 3/16: 304 stainless for the outer frame and 3 x 3 16ga stainless wire for the actual grill itself (I nicked the idea from kimini). Because I don’t have a TiG welder, I used stainless wire in my MIG and 80% argon / 20% co2. I realize that’s not the best way to do it, but that’s what I used.

To weld it, I wrapped the wire around the back of the frame and tacked each grill wire to the frame. In the process, the nice stainless browned up quite a bit from the heat. I tried brushing it out but cannot remove some of the heat marks. Any ideas?

I realize not everyone will like the look of the old school stainless, but I rather like it. Note that in the picture the grill is not properly positioned; I just placed it for the picture.

--Thanks, Chris
Rescued attachment Grill1.JPG

Note this has not been completely dressed yet.
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Acid.

this may be your answer;

chrome & s.steel.

and it removes brown staines .... hopefully not off your seat

[Edited on 2/12/05 by 02GF74]

Could you not mount it behind the GRP noise cone?

Dan

Hi Chris,

The proper way is acid paste followed with a jet wash.
Then acid gel and jet wash, but that's no help is it?

So, wire brush it is then. Use a stainless wire brush as a steel wire brush
will make the grill go rusty: (steel contaminates the stainless).

If you can get one use a round one that fits in an electric drill.
It will clean it up in no time. USE EYE PROTECTION. Those little wires stick in anything.

If you can't get a stainless one then use a bronze one. Don't use a steel one.

Hope this helps.

Paul G

p.s. If you think you have a problem then think of me. Most of my car is s/s.

At work we use what they call pickling paste. Very sweet smelling and stingy on the eyes.
They buy it in ready mixed and paint it on. I'll try and remember to get the name for you tommorrow. If youve got a cut this stuff stings the bejeezus out of it and turns your skin yellow

Pickling paste is THE stuff!! comes in tubs with a very large skull & crossbones - for good reason. The main 2 ingredients are Nitric acid and Hydrofluoric acid. The second is very very nasty stuff.

If you use this stuff be very carefull

Don't touch anything with hydrofluoric acid with anything shorter than a very long barge pole. Its' effects are devastating. It's the stuff they warn you about resulting from burnt seals inside engines, once it starts burning it doesn't stop and results in loss of limbs, it can also be inhaled. PDF here.

Be artistic and air-brush the stained areas black and shade into the centre.

Should look stunning.

Here's one with it mounted inside, rubber channel section on the edge of the GRP.
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Gentlemen:

Many thanks for the suggestions. I wanted to check before commenting, but it was a stainless brush I used. I got the grill at a bike owning friends place. He's going to try the blue away. I also placed the grill behind the nosecone and it looks good that way too. So when all else fails, I'll mount it that way.

Again, thanks, Chris