Author Topic: Exhaust system paint. (Read 4453 times)

thrutheframe · « **on:** April 07, 2012, 09:35:27 AM »

The Mac 4-1 on my CB650 is a real joy to listen to and the included hardware was everything I needed to do it right BUT....
The "powder coat" is a joke. The header is already showing orangish on the underside and the muffler has a spot where I dripped oil on it and the "powder coat" dissolved.
My question is can I repaint the thing with engine paint? That seems to be the most attractive, easy to get product.... Does the exhaust get hotter than the engine? I think it does at the header but not the muffler.

camelman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2012, 10:44:55 AM »

I suggest using exhaust specific paint. That paint is usually labeled VHT, which means very high temperature, and it should handle the temps your exhaust pipes reach. engine paint will not handle those temps. It is very important to prepare the surface of the exhaust header beforehand, apply a primer, and then apply the paint. When the painting is complete, you MUST cure the paint if you want the best results. The curing instructions are on the paint can, and are going to be very clearly labeled.

I Used VHT paint on an exhaust a while back and it held up great. It will likely chip a bit due to road debris, but you can always touch up small spots.

Good luck

Camelman

thrutheframe · « **Reply #2 on:** April 07, 2012, 11:04:12 AM »

A pic !

thrutheframe · « **Reply #3 on:** April 07, 2012, 11:07:18 AM »

Yeah I figured it all out once I read the cans at NAPA. I'm going to go to the "paint store" NAPA has and get the good stuff.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #4 on:** April 07, 2012, 01:45:49 PM »

They have a satin clear, I ordered that and it will be in Tuesday. In the mean time I'm going to go ahead and get the flat black on and get it cured.

dave500 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 07, 2012, 01:59:33 PM »

ive used that very vht with the most carefull prep the primer aswell and it dosent last like a half the price bbq paint i tried
i use the engine paints with no trouble,this is not a good look

this bbq paint is holding up much better,with no primer.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #6 on:** April 07, 2012, 02:05:53 PM »

Are you recommending the barbecue paint over the engine paint or vice versa?

dave500 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2012, 02:23:51 PM »

ive had more luck with the bbq paint,ive used vht high temp a few times and never really been impressed,their engine paints work ok for me though

camelman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:04:20 PM »

It is strange how results vary so dramatically according to geography even for the same manufacturer. I wonder if there are formulation differences.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:09:00 PM »

Here goes!

thrutheframe · « **Reply #10 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:13:38 PM »

I sanded it all with 220, the chip spots I sanded to bare metal and feathered them out. I wiped it off with acetone then sprayed one light coat, waited 10 minutes, another light coat wait 10, a last heavy coat and now I'm waiting 3 hours before I go get it and cure it in my home oven. I'll do any touch up and clear it next weekend.

dave500 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:34:52 PM »

the tail end will be much cooler than the headers,i think youll be ok.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:58:19 PM »

Yeah, I don't know if the satin clear will help with durability but I think it will look better than straight flat black. Even if it's a total failure I know I can get it powder coated properly fairly cheap. So far I have $18.00 in paint and enough paint left to paint the header.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #13 on:** April 07, 2012, 05:05:05 PM »

On a really cool note the spray tip on this stuff works great, I'm encouraged to get some high end stuff like duplicolor and start by painting my side covers. The have a MOPAR color I like, charcoal grey metallic.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2012, 07:02:02 PM »

I put it in at 250f for 30 minutes... I'm going to the ghetto store for a sixer and some munchies.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2012, 07:53:25 PM »

30 minutes of cooling then back in for 30 minutes at 400f then 30 minutes of cooling and finally 30 minutes at 600f.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2012, 07:55:57 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on April 07, 2012, 01:59:33 PM

ive used that very vht with the most carefull prep the primer aswell and it dosent last like a half the price bbq paint i tried
i use the engine paints with no trouble,this is not a good look

this bbq paint is holding up much better,with no primer.

Dave,
Is that an Original Yoshimura 4 into 1 Exhaust that you have on you're CB500/550 ?

dave500 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:13:07 PM »

im not sure ive had a couple of the same exhaust,it used to look like this though.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:20:35 PM »

Ok 12 minutes left on the last bake. I'm run out of the apartment the smell isn't as bad as the eye burning, every window is open and every ceiling is on. Definitely not gonna do this again.... Without a huge fan that is.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:31:15 PM »

Is there a special High Heat Powder Coat used only on Exhaust systems?..I heard there was.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:33:40 PM »

It smoked a lot more than the pic shows.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2012, 09:28:31 AM »

I got it back on the bike. I stripped the clamp to bare metal because it wrinkled up when I coated it the first time. I used the BBQ paint I already had (rustoleum) on that piece just to see how it holds up.

bollingball · « **Reply #22 on:** April 08, 2012, 10:13:59 AM »

You want the best this is it. Cost$$$ But this is the best.

Ken

http://www.jet-hot.com/

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 08, 2012, 12:29:21 PM »

That looks similar to Ceramic Ken.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2012, 02:54:21 PM »

I picked up the clear today. The guy at the NAPA paint counter asked me about how I baked it. I told him how I cured the muffler and that I plan to cure the header on the bike. He recommended against it because the part of the pipe close to the head gets cured nicely and the rest rusts or peels off. I doubt that I can get the header in my oven.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 13, 2012, 03:29:32 PM »

some confusion here...VHT is a brand name, other paint manufacturers also make very high temperature paint...I have had decent success with VHT brand header paint but once you get caught in the wet, it starts to break down...seems like it lasts at most two seasons. If I ever get an exhaust that I really want to keep for a long time, I will have jet hot do the ceramic coating. I have a buddy who tried professionally applied high temperature powder...it lasted a little better than what you can do with a spray can and cost a LOT.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #26 on:** April 13, 2012, 03:39:08 PM »

Yes I used VHT Flameproof. Im sure the pro ceramic coating is the way to go. I'll be happy if I get two seasons out of this paint job. The stock MAC paint job didn't last 3 months.

dave500 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 13, 2012, 11:46:55 PM »

further to my reply#5,,this is the paint i used and it seems to holding so much better than the more expesive vht brand in the same situ,,its aussie made so you probably wont get it where you are,it says its 100% silicon based and rated to 1000F,the vht says"our exclusive ceramic formulation"or similar and is rated at 1300-2000F,again ive had no trouble with vht engine paints though.

thrutheframe · « **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2012, 05:36:47 AM »

Then you cure it by submitting it to one continuous low note from a dozen didgeridoos for 6 hours.

Bodi · « **Reply #29 on:** April 14, 2012, 06:37:48 AM »

you have an oven that goes to 600???

thrutheframe · « **Reply #30 on:** April 14, 2012, 06:57:42 AM »

No, it goes to 550. I didn't get it that it wouldn't go that high until I tried to set it to 600.

dave500 · « **Reply #31 on:** April 14, 2012, 12:59:51 PM »

Quote from: thrutheframe on April 14, 2012, 05:36:47 AM

Then you cure it by submitting it to one continuous low note from a dozen didgeridoos for 6 hours.

im just gonna make a didgeridoo exhaust instead!

thrutheframe · « **Reply #32 on:** April 14, 2012, 05:47:53 PM »

Oh the agony!

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Author Topic: Exhaust system paint. (Read 4453 times)

bollingball