Exhaust...painting?

This winter I plan to take my pipes off and sand them all down (rusty and pitted) I got some highheat black paint i plan to paint them with. Just the pipes to the exhaust, not the actual exhaust. Has anyone done this? Does it look fine? Good idea bad idea? Just lookin for some input on the plan. thanks.

 

I bought a pint of POR 20 high temp exhaust paint and did the bike and my Baja. It has been three years for the Baja and it is just now showing some surface rust. Bar-b-que paint only lasted a week.

This stuff cures with heat so I used my heat gun pointing down the tubes to heat them up. Do this outside! The instructions recommend baking in an oven but I am not that brave. SWMBO tolerates my hobbies but that would be pushing it since the smell of the paint curing will drive you out of the house.

Wear disposable gloves and use a cheap brush if you go that route since it is very hard to clean up. Got some on my leg when I did the bike and it finally wore off in a week.

You can get the POR 20 from here http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpr ... 13&cartid=

 

I'm in the same boat. Pimples on the cheeks of a center-fold. I'm thinking the best way to get this done is Powder Coat. Paint's OK ... especially if it comes-out nice.

But, I need that look of: They came this way. I don't know how much the Powder-job is going to cost. But, I plan to investigate.

Maybe I'll just hand the guy an envelope full of lettuce, about a week before Christmas ... I'll be his Santa ... he can be mine -- under the table!

 

I have half a suggestion. The local bike builder and chopper guru told me to use catapiller mufler paint. Comes in a spray can and is what he uses. Made by the Catapiller equipment company. They guys who build the bulldozer's and road graters. Even has their ame and logo on the can. There's my half of the suggestion, the other half is that I don't know where to get any.
He told me to paint it on my pipes then start the bike and let them get a little hot. Sht the bike down and let them cool them do it again. After that, they are ready for the road.

 

Have you checked out Jet-Hot? They do a ceramic coating.

http://jet-hot.com/

I had the header pipes on my V Star 1100 done in Jet-Hot black and left the mufflers chrome. They look great.

Supposedly, the coating will also improve exhaust flow increasing horspower. I don't know if that's true, but I do know the coating is pretty tough.

 

Has anybody used this VHT paint? http://www.speedunleashed.com/VHT_Paint ... 19386.html
I'm thinking about getting it to do my pipes.

 

Sounds like you all have good ideas. I've tried the Dupli-Color hi-heat spray paint, but it always rubs off and doesn't last long.

No matter how many times I learn that the $5 option is not going to work, I keep trying...

 

you used the duplicolor...now was that the higest heat one or just like the 500degree? i got the 1600 i think. Might be trying it this weekend depending on the weather. I'll let ya all know...(even though now im posting like almost a year later)

 

I just did mine. Like Brad said, even with the primer, the paint didn't really want to stay on the pipes. They looked fine before I reinstalled them, but they got a bit banged up putting them on.

As for paint, I used the (intermittent) 1200 degree Duplicolor, and wanting some clearcoat on top of that, and not finding any from that vendor, went with the VHT 2000 degree clearcoat.

I haven't really ridden much of anywhere with it yet, as I'm still sorting out the carbs, but I did notice the pipes are starting to discolor already. The collector... not so much. I think. I haven't really looked.

 

I did mine in black with DEI high temp 2000 degrees F the can says. Headers are wrapped with their exhaust wrap and coated over top. Just put the coating on the muffler part. I'll post pics later when I get a chance. Not on the bike yet but looks pretty sweet laying next to it. Got the stuff at summit racing for like $8 a can I think. 1.5 cans for the whole exhaust. Must be ground shipped ;-) that means it's good stuff.

 

I'm with Jim_Vess,

I contacted Jet Hot I they Quoted me $160.00 to coat all 4 headers in the polished nickel finish, I am a fan of the stock chrome on my X.

Relatively speaking, $160.00 is not that much in the big scheme of things, I cut corners where I can on the bike, but damn, give them my pitted pipes & get back ones that look brand new for less than 2 bills? to me it seems like a good deal.

 

It seems like a GREAT Deal.

How much prep do you have to do to get a real nice looking job - back?

The inside upper turn-in's at the tops of all four of my head pipes aren't just pitted. Does the stuff fill-in moonscape aging?

 

Jet-Hot also quoted me $160.00 for my Gemini header. The beauty of the Jet-Hot process is that it coats both the inside AND the outside of the pipe. It lowers pipe temps dramatically and increases the scavenge effect as well. Jet-Hot will sandblast your pipe using special media which works better than the glass bead normally used for this process, at no extra charge.
That being said, I chose NOT to go with Jet-Hot due to the pitting on my down-tubes....I was reluctant to put that much bread into a pipe which has seen better days. Instead, I used VHT 2000 degree ceramic paint. I prepped by hand-sanding and cleaning with MEK, then applied 3 light-to-medium coats, letting them dry thoroughly between coats. After air-curing 24 hours, I heated the entire surface with a propane torch and let it cool, then re-heated it. The stuff dried as tough as nails and (for once) didn't scratch or chip when I installed the header. Best of all, it cost a whopping 7 bucks.
If I had an expensive new header, or one in excellent condition, I'd go Jet-Hot. Other than that, I recommend the VHT.

 

Rick,
I contacted Jet-Hot again, They do prep it like Captainkirk stated, unfortunately they cannot fill in dimples, mine too have some pitting, underside of down pipes, But they said the coating would still be a uniform shine.
Being that it's on the under side of the pipes, I'm wondering if you would really even notice once they are shining with a new coating? Definetly would prolong the life & prevent any further corrosion & look great if one wanted to maintain the chrome look!

 

Jet-Hot will do most of the prep on your pipes. All you really need to do is clean the dirt off and send them.

The head pipes on my VStar are Jet-Hot black. They are easy to keep clean, practically bulletproof, and cool down fast after a ride.

I like how well it's held up that I've decided to get the rusted 4-1 on my Seca done in Jet-Hot black also. It's like getting a brand new exhaust for less than $200.

Turn-around is pretty quick too. I had my head pipes back in a week and a half.

 

I had HP Coatings in Oklahoma City do the complete exhaust system on two of my Seca 900`s They coat inside and out and have several different color options. www.hpcoatings.com

 

Jet-Hot will do most of the prep on your pipes. All you really need to do is clean the dirt off and send them.

The head pipes on my VStar are Jet-Hot black. They are easy to keep clean, practically bulletproof, and cool down fast after a ride.

I like how well it's held up that I've decided to get the rusted 4-1 on my Seca done in Jet-Hot black also. It's like getting a brand new exhaust for less than $200.

Turn-around is pretty quick too. I had my head pipes back in a week and a half.