Is it possible to polish through the nickel plating on a set of stainless headers?

Front header, as it was

Cross over pipe that I was trying to clean up and polish

close-up

close-up

sorry for the large size of the pics. These are TOG headers for a GTP but I trust the knowledge base here more than the hooligans on the grand prix forums.

 

I'm no expert but I didn't think stainless headers were plated.

 

headers arent coated you can polish raw stainless and aluminum finish it just takes the right wheels and compounds and is a dirty job

 

It's very common for stainless headers to be coated, it's either for corrosion resistance or for retaining heat. Of course the cheaper stainless has a tendency to corrode faster then the higher grades.

These headers were available with a ceramic coat or a electroless nickel plating. Polishing isn't that difficult with the right compounds and wheels, I just didn't know if it was possible to burn through the plating with tripoli buffing compound on a spiral sewn wheel. I guess I'll try another forum, thanks anyways guys.

 

A wire wheel will blow through the plating in no time.