Cheap neat way to paint manifolds.Is powder coating ok?

[HarryCrowth]

Has anyone got any experience of refurbishing exhaust manifolds? I'm looking for the best cheap way to powder coat but not sure what temperatures powder coating can withstand? Is ceramic coating better?

[Loplop]

Remove it, stuff the ports with newspaper, scotch pad the whole thing and chuck some VHT on it.

[HarryCrowth]

Where do you buy your VHT? Do you think the flameproof version will be the best option?

[pits]

HarryCrowth said:

Has anyone got any experience of refurbishing exhaust manifolds? I'm looking for the best cheap way to powder coat but not sure what temperatures powder coating can withstand? Is ceramic coating better?

Powder coating uses plastic powder, it will melt within a matter of minutes, I would go ceramic and avoid exhaust wrap

[HarryCrowth]

pits said:

I would go ceramic and avoid exhaust wrap

Does ceramic need to be sand blasted first?

[Loplop]

HarryCrowth said:

Where do you buy your VHT? Do you think the flameproof version will be the best option?

eBay, Amazon, Halfords

[jackofall84]

You can get VHT powder coat paints:

https://www.hmgpaint.com/products/industrial/powde...

[Caddyshack]

HarryCrowth said:

pits said:

I would go ceramic and avoid exhaust wrap

Does ceramic need to be sand blasted first?

Send it away and they do it all for you...look up zircotec...oh and forget cheap if you look at this route.

[HarryCrowth]

Caddyshack said:

Send it away and they do it all for you...look up zircotec...oh and forget cheap if you look at this route.

I was hoping for a cheap solution I can do at home. So I'm leaning more towards the aerosol option.

i just need to get some flangeless plugs and make a diy sand blaster. Does anyone know where I can buy or hire a cheap sandblaster?

[jackofall84]

HarryCrowth said:

I was hoping for a cheap solution I can do at home. So I'm leaning more towards the aerosol option.

i just need to get some flangeless plugs and make a diy sand blaster. Does anyone know where I can buy or hire a cheap sandblaster?

I'd buy a cheap compressor and then a sand blast gun.

[Olas]

VHT paint doesn't stand up to exhaust manifold temps - sandblast/degrease/dry/paint and it peeled off after 2 hoours of hard use.

Ceramic coat is the best option for thermal management AND anti corrosion/longevity.

[Demelitia]

HarryCrowth said:

Has anyone got any experience of refurbishing exhaust manifolds? I'm looking for the best cheap way to powder coat but not sure what temperatures powder coating can withstand? Is ceramic coating better?

If you’re looking at this purely for aesthetics and corrosion protection, Cerakote could be an option.
It’s already used on exhausts and I’ve had some gun parts done. Nice finish, hard wearing and lots of colours available, although I’m not sure if they’ll all be available for extreme high temp uses.
I used Riflecraft, they have another side to the business doing non-shooty things.

[GreenV8S]

Olas said:

Ceramic coat is the best option for thermal management AND anti corrosion/longevity.

^^^ That.

The paint is a bit expensive but you can DIY.

[indigochim]

When I did mine I used this Victas spray it claims 800c running where as the VHT was only 600-650c I built a wooden box lined with insulation and foil and cured them with a fire in the box with charcoal. I had them media blasted prior to paint and they looked great in white, a bugger to keep clean through.

[indigochim]

No pics as fitted but here they are prior to curing. As others have said I think the key is in the prep and being blasted and decreased meant that the coat adhered well and curing them prevented the paint blistering or flaking off. They still looked good until I swapped them for a set of performance manifolds.

[mickyh7]

Your looking at doing a cheap job, then your in the market for a Sandblaster for one job ???
You just lost all savings.
Just buy a Can of Manifold paint from Demon Tweeks.
https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/search/shop-by/q/e...

Edited by mickyh7 on Saturday 7th March 07:38

Edited by mickyh7 on Saturday 7th March 07:55

[markymarkthree]

I had an aluminium coating sprayed on mine ( Essex V6) by BMS Bristol which was white. I then over sprayed with PJ1 VHT following their instructions to the book. 10 years on and its still perfect but it has gone very slightly grey.

[paintman]

Get them blasted by a company that offers that service.
A small compressor & a sand blasting gun are unlikely to work - I had a play with a spotblasting gun with my 2hp & I'd have done better throwing the media by hand.

[HarryCrowth]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've managed to borrow a sandblaster. I've seen some good reviews for por15? But I need to clean and degrease with por15 clearner and degreaser first.

[indigochim]

I've read good things about there other products and that claims temps higher than the VHT paint so could be good. Prep is the key with these so take your time. The reviews I'd seen where people's coatings fail is where they just paint and go straight up to temp rather than curing them gradually.