painting headers??

I'm almost finished (for now) putting together my Maxim X. I'm gonna paint my headers with dupli color high temp paint. I was told that I need to bake this paint on. Is this true? The directions on the can dont say anything about baking in an oven. Can't I bake the paint on while I am riding and the pipes are hot? Any tips would be greatly appreciated-thanks.

 

The best finish will be acheived with a good bake in the oven. It's a more controlled temperature and will cure evenly.

Yes you can bake on the bike but if you push it too hard it will burn near the heads instead of bake on. Take it easy if you are going to bake it on the bike and let it bake and cure slowly otherwise you may get a discolouration down the pipe.

Make sure they are shiney and clean before putting the paint on.

 

Since we're on the subject, whats the ideal (average) temp for baking? I've built a few brickoven-kilns for ceramics in the past and I'm curious if the something similar might work.

 

Most of the high temps I've used suggest 400 F.

 

oh, thats it?

Hell, I don't need to build anything for that. The stove in my kitchen goes to 550!

I've done kilns up to 1200...i guess 1200 would mess with the metal a bit, eh?

 

Personally I just 'use it' in years of painting headers I've discovered that simple cheap brush on hi temp or even BBQ paint works just as well as any other and brushing actually allows a better thicker paint application than spraying with a Rattle can. Yes there 'may' be a bit of browning but frankly it's minor and after a week of running there will be enough road damage to the finish so and discolouration will simply dissapear.
IF you want a Primo finish you would be going for a Ceramic coating.. It Works! but costs $$

 

I would advise against using the kitchen oven, especially if it is gas. The fumes may "spark" a marital problem (stinks to high heaven, and no, I didn't do it, learned from anothers expense). The problem with the fumes and a gas fired oven are obvious. Personaly, I would spring for the ceramic but last time I checked it was close to $400USD! Ouch! Seriously, I've had excellent results from BBQ paint, just doesn't last very long, neccessitating touch up every now and again.

 

I've had good luck with the 1200 F paint from Canadian tire... the 600F paint comes in more colours but there is a metalic silver in 1200f and a nice flat black as well.

I rattle canned the exhausts/headers of my 600r with decent results... thin coats that cured in a open area for 2-4 days between coats. I might have put 4 coats on. Broken arm at the time so didn't have much to do other than paint.

 

I was joking about the oven bit

 

I've had decent results with lightly sanblasting the header, spraying on a few thin coats (allow to dry overnight between coats, then running the bike just until you can smell the solvent bleeding out of the paint, then shut it off. Wait an hour or two, run again until you can smell the paint, then shut 'er down. Repeat until you can run without choking on the fumes - you should get progressively longer runs - its fully cured when you can't smell it any more. Don't let it run until it smokes excessively - you'll burn the paint! I've found this is usually good for at least a couple of seasons, then its time to re-spray.

 

IF you really want to do a decent job of spray painting your pipes with a Rattle can of Hi temp paint (of your Choice) this THE method:
Get a Propane torch.. Use it to heat your pipes nice and warm .. not red hot though .. then spray the paint on.. the paint will smoke/cure on application ..don't worry, that's normal.. let set for a while then repeat the process as you fee/seel the need .
Result is a pre-baked hi temp paint job.
A proven method giving surprinsingly good result.. enjoy.
Used to do it all the time.. now I just 'use em'

 

Thanks guys and gals! those all seem like good ideas. Danillo seems like he has a good formula. I was thinking... How about baking in a gas bbq grill? any thoughts on that? or is it a bad idea?

 

I'd think using a gas grill would be similar to using a conventional oven...aside from being outdoors.

If anyones interested in having a slightly more permanent baking location I could do a writeup on making a brickoven style kiln. Just burns wood but you can easily get it up to 400+ for a long period of time.

I use one for melting glass and firing glazed ceramics at around 900-1200F depending on the chem content of the glaze.

 

My mufflers have a bit of road rash from the previous owner, and I've been thinking about sanding them down and smoothing out the wrinkles, because they still work great. Then spray my entire exhaust system... This method sounds like a good starting point. Thanks for the info.

 

I remember my dad telling me about using a bake on finish on a set of 70 340 Cuda valve covers in my grandmother's oven.... It was a gas oven and she liveded in an apartment building in NYC. He caught hell for it... :twisted:

Sorry, had to share. :lol:

 

every one in the building must of been wondering what the hell grandma was baking!