Topic: header paint that doesn't burn off?

[oddballmotorsports]

most of the spray bomb header paints have trouble staying on water cooled exhausts..  so I would imagine I'd need a special very high temp paint to survive on the headers of mine..  anyone have any suggestions?  ceramic doesn't seem like a bad idea, but I just wanted to see if there were any cheaper options out there that actually worked as well as they claim..

[flybox1]

Water cooled exhausts?
You riding in a tyhoon or something? 

[PetesPonies]

Bill Hirsh exhaust paint and others like it, do the best job of lasting. But nothing is like having ceramic.

[Bankerdanny]

Well, lots of boats have water cooled manifolds, but if that's what he is talking about then he is in the wrong place.

[calj737]

Part of the reason paint applied to the pipes doesn't survive is that its only applied to the outside of the pipe. The heat transmits from the inside out, so it effects adhesion of the paint over time.

Ceramic applied inside and outside is best for durability, and performance. It runs about $150-$225 where I have mine done. Not only does the exhaust perform better, it definitely reduces the temperature of the pipe to the touch.

[540nova]

Not only does the exhaust perform better, it definitely reduces the temperature of the pipe to the touch.

Why would you want to touch a hot exhaust, anyway?



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[Stev-o]

Well, lots of boats have water cooled manifolds, but if that's what he is talking about then he is in the wrong place.

Guess I need to check my boat exhaust, may be time for a repaint?!

[kerryb]

I painted the headers and part of the chrome on a golding exhaust with high temp paint from NAPA in a rattle can.  Has held up fine for two years and 1000 miles.

[Airborne 82nd]

Part of the reason paint applied to the pipes doesn't survive is that its only applied to the outside of the pipe. The heat transmits from the inside out, so it effects adhesion of the paint over time.

Ceramic applied inside and outside is best for durability, and performance. It runs about $150-$225 where I have mine done. Not only does the exhaust perform better, it definitely reduces the temperature of the pipe to the touch.

Amen. Do the inside and outside Ceramic is the best way to go. By the way calj737 where do you have yours done?

[calj737]

Amen. Do the inside and outside Ceramic is the best way to go. By the way calj737 where do you have yours done?

Thermal Tech Coatings, Hopewell, VA
Andy Vaughan 804-452-0263

Also does my piston coatings, powder coating, and other "specialty performance" coatings on automotive parts.

Stev-O, you've never touched an exhaust while running? Even accidentally? 

[Stev-o]

Amen. Do the inside and outside Ceramic is the best way to go. By the way calj737 where do you have yours done?

Thermal Tech Coatings, Hopewell, VA
Andy Vaughan 804-452-0263

Also does my piston coatings, powder coating, and other "specialty performance" coatings on automotive parts.

Stev-O, you've never touched an exhaust while running? Even accidentally? 

I do all the time, how else would you check a cylinder for fire?!  It's nova that doesn't.....

[540nova]

I have, and have been known to stick screwdrivers in wall sockets.


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[evanphi]

Don't use header paint or BBQ paint. Both have only ever lasted me one riding season.

Just get the ceramic done.

Or go stainless.

[nvr2old]

VHT high-temp paint works real well, too.  I painted the Yosh pipe on my GS1000S with it 6 yrs. ago and it it still looks great.  After you spray it and let it dry completely, you can wipe it down with a rag and it gives it a nice smooth almost semi-shiny finish.

[evanphi]

VH1 high-temp paint works real well, too.  I painted the Yosh pipe on my GS1000S with it 6 yrs. ago and it it still looks great.  After you spray it and let it dry completely, you can wipe it down with a rag and it gives it a nice smooth almost semi-shiny finish.

I used that stuff AND the primer, and only the primer remained after a season. This was with meticulous prep, too.

[MikeSimon]

I always hated the blue exhaust headers on BMW "Airheads", so I coated the inside of the new exhaust of my R100S. When I posted about this in a BMW forum, I almost got crucified by the community, who said the "blueing" was the signature feature of an Airhead exhaust...

[2wheels]

Funny that some don't seem to get the water thing.  My painted pipes are great until the first rain.  Then the wear off begins.

Last time I used barbecue paint.  Then put clear coat over it.  That has been the best result I have got so far.

[seanbarney41]

+1...every time I have used any kind of header paint it holds up so-so, until you get caught far from home in the rain...heat and water turn it a crappy looking grey and then it quickly burns off

[evanphi]

+1...every time I have used any kind of header paint it holds up so-so, until you get caught far from home in the rain...heat and water turn it a crappy looking grey and then it quickly burns off

Makes sense for my situation since I live in a very foggy place.

[tlbranth]

Part of the reason paint applied to the pipes doesn't survive is that its only applied to the outside of the pipe. The heat transmits from the inside out, so it effects adhesion of the paint over time.

Ceramic applied inside and outside is best for durability, and performance. It runs about $150-$225 where I have mine done. Not only does the exhaust perform better, it definitely reduces the temperature of the pipe to the touch.

I paid a princely sum to have my exhaust ceramic coated inside and out. It rusted within a few months. The outfit that did it re-coated it for free and now it's rusty again. I'd say the Duplicolor (or was it VHT?) paint I used initially actually held up longer. That't what I'll be using in the future. Cheap and can be touched up when necessary.

[calj737]

Part of the reason paint applied to the pipes doesn't survive is that its only applied to the outside of the pipe. The heat transmits from the inside out, so it effects adhesion of the paint over time.

Ceramic applied inside and outside is best for durability, and performance. It runs about $150-$225 where I have mine done. Not only does the exhaust perform better, it definitely reduces the temperature of the pipe to the touch.

I paid a princely sum to have my exhaust ceramic coated inside and out. It rusted within a few months. The outfit that did it re-coated it for free and now it's rusty again. I'd say the Duplicolor (or was it VHT?) paint I used initially actually held up longer. That't what I'll be using in the future. Cheap and can be touched up when necessary.

Whomever did it, didn't do it properly. As with anything, prep is the key to results. A used pipe (if this were the case) is much harder to coat internally, but there should be little excuse for exterior rust!

Last year when my garage collapsed and my 550 was stranded beneath 2' of snow for a week, the engine cases oxidized terribly. Some zinc hardware did too. The only things that didn't suffer was the stainless hardware and the ceramic coated MGP system. Its still as slick and smooth as the day I picked it up.

[Chachi]

High temp rattle canned a couple of times, never lasted. Ceramic coated with no issues. Rattle can cost me around $40 total with a lot of manual labor for prep. Ceramic coat for less than a $150 with zero effort on my part.

[nvr2old]

VH1 high-temp paint works real well, too.  I painted the Yosh pipe on my GS1000S with it 6 yrs. ago and it it still looks great.  After you spray it and let it dry completely, you can wipe it down with a rag and it gives it a nice smooth almost semi-shiny finish.

I used that stuff AND the primer, and only the primer remained after a season. This was with meticulous prep, too.

Hmm.  Not sure what I did different then you other then not using the primer.  I sanded mine down to bare metal with 180 grit, smoothed it a bit with 400 grit, sprayed the black, and it still looks fantastic.  No fade, no flake..rain or shine.  VHT does come in different heat ranges from 500-1200 degrees.  I used the highest.

I notice in my original post I said "VH1".. ..changed that to read VHT

[scunny]

VHT header paint on chrome, scuffed up a bit then sprayed on, no primer and holding up after a few years.

[tlbranth]

VHT header paint on chrome, scuffed up a bit then sprayed on, no primer and holding up after a few years.

Pics? I'm restoring (and perverting) an old Goldwing. Amongst other things, it's getting Bonneville pea shooters which I would love to paint black (I'm not a fan of chrome).

[scunny]

Here is a pic, excuse the dirt, been riding the snot out of it lately.

[Terry in Australia]

VHT header paint on chrome, scuffed up a bit then sprayed on, no primer and holding up after a few years.

Yep, I did the same on my old Yoshi pipe Scunny, the chrome was pretty sad, so I bought a can of VHT satin black header paint, and it lasted for years. I think I etch primed it first though, I can't remember....... anyway, good stuff. Cheers, Terry.