Exhaust and header paint removal

[d3vi@nt]

Looking at a full Termi system for an MTS. The muffler piece is Ti and I believe the headers are stainless. They've been rattle-canned with high-temp paint.

Can anyone with experience recommend the best DIY method to strip the paint without damaging the metal underneath? I'm sure I could do the headers with coarse to fine sandpaper, but there's enough nooks and crannies that this method would take weeks. The muffler's a different story --any scratches or scuffs would ruin the appearnce. I don't know if they're normally coated, either and if that will be a concern.

I've read through a lot of forums with recommendations that didn't pan out. I'm hoping to get a solid idea of what to expect before I decide whether to dive into this project.

TIA

[ducpainter]

Paint stripper.

You'll need to remove the stripper with a flood of water (garden hose), but the chemical in the stripper won't hurt the metal.

Hopefully the base metal wasn't sanded, or you'll have to polish. I don't believe the muffler would be coated. Liquid clear wouldn't stand up to the heat, and anodizing only works on aluminum.

[Speeddog]

I don't think the Ti stuff is coated with anything.

Rattlecan paint usually cannot survive acetone, and that won't hurt the metal parts.
I'd start with a paper towel soaked in acetone and rub the pipes, see what happens.

No acetone inside the can or the pipes.

Standard deal on acetone; nasty stuff that burns in a hurry, so be safe.

There's chemical strippers, but IMO they're nastier than acetone.

[d3vi@nt]

Thanks for the replies. Pretty sure I still have a can of acetone somewhere in the garage I can test out.

Paint stripper.

Any specific ones you recommend? Most reviews are split 50/50 where whatever worked great or didn't work at all.

[ducpainter]

The best stripper I've ever used is POR-15 stripper.

It out performed Kleen-Strip Aircraft by a mile, which is the next best in my experience.