I picked up a set of long tube headers for my engine build and they have surface rust on then from sitting, I used steel wool to remove the rough stuff from one of them but the wool degrades and wears away really fast, any other tips?

 

wire wheel on a drill, scotchbrite , sand blast.

 

ditto. been doing it this way myself forever (wire wheel and drill). if this doesn't get rid of it, you've got bigger issues

 

Yeah sandblasting would be the way to go. You should get them coated also, cause if the rust is brothering you now, your going to be really ticked once you see them on your engine for a month and the rust comes back. Plus it will look sharp and help keep the engine temps down and protect the headers. And if you do get them coated, they have to clean up the headers to coated them. So a win,win for you.