Hot Tank Before Port & Polish?

[PolloLoco]

Is it best to hot tank the head clean before porting? I'm just smoothing things out, not porting really. I'm getting a lot of black crap all over my Standard Abrasives kit. I brought it to the machine shop and they magnafluxed it, but it wasn't spotless when I got it back. Did I get screwed there or is it possible to magnaflux without it being spotless? Should I take it to the machine shop and have it hot tanked before continuing the P&P?

[Bodo]

Do machine shops still hot tank? We have a pressure washer type.

Anyways, I'd have them bake/clean it prior to porting. It'll keep the carbon off of the abrasives and help you see what you're doing.

[gradon]

I used a little carb cleaner w/ wire brush before I p&p'd mine. I actually didn't mind a little layer of carbon as it would show me the surfaces that needed work. The main thing is to clean it real good after the p&p--you don't want any iron pieces getting into the cylinder.

[SilverXJ]

I didn't actually pay for a cleaning before porting considering I would have afterward. I just used some engine degreaser and a steel brush. Cleaned up fairly well.