DIY Ceramic coating header

4792 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by DoubleT, Feb 15, 2010

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Discussion Starter · Sep 25, 2006

I just realized that the thread with the discussion about doing your own ceramic coating was lost in the crash, so I will post some of it here.

I have been doing many of my own ceramic coatings with supplies from www.techlinecoatings.com for several decades.

In order to black ceramic coat the exhaust on mine and HiVel's bikes I ordered the Black Satin ceramic coating. 4ounces ($20.00) will coat a header - you may need more to do a whole exhaust system to the silencers. Make sure you shake the contents VERY well before using - the ceramic particles will settle in the resin.

Remove the header/exhaust.
Blast the parts with 120 grit aluminum oxide to give it a clean surface to bond to.
Wash with soap and water.
Wipe with acetone.
Spray coating on parts.

Use heat gun or oven to start curing process (not tacky) - the parts will final cure on the bike to a nice satin finish.

I use a disposable Preval sprayer ($4.00 at Home Depot) to spray the parts.

If you scratch or nick the header at a later date (or when installing them), simply spray the area with a bit of the coating. It touches up very well.

I hope this helps. Don't be afraid to do it yourself!

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 25, 2006

Side note - There are other colors available for the exhaust, but they require an oven to cure, and many will also require polishing after curing.

The black holds heat in best, and is easiest to apply/cure.

J-Pip

· #3 · Oct 22, 2006

It looked like the titanium cured on the bike as well and didn't require an oven. I would rather do the titanium color than that black. Any expierience with this? I plan to apply it as soon as the snow falls, which is probably a couple weeks from now. Any feedback is appreciated.

G

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 22, 2006

I have not used any of the colored coatings - only Satin Black, white, and Cermichrome.

Decosse

· #5 · Mar 19, 2007

Nice tip - I'd like to try this.'Did you do inside or just outside?

Devious2xs

· #6 · Mar 19, 2007

I coat the outside, and in some cases about 6 inches into the ends of the header primary tubes on mild steel headers, but not on SS.

mongo

· #7 · Mar 29, 2007

hey devious.
i am seriously considering doing this. seems pretty easy and cost effective !!

question. what a disposable Preval sprayer?
is that just a handheld bottle type water sprayer?

how thick is the coating liquid? it passes through this sprayer easily i guess...

also on the techline site it says that there is no need for heat curing,
the exhaust temp should cure it... ?

cheers, j

Devious2xs

· #8 · Mar 29, 2007

Mongo,
I use a small spray gun, an airbrush, and Preval sprayers, depending on what coating and what parts I am coating. http://www.prevalspraygun.com/

The Black Satin (and some others) will cure on the bike, but it is a bit sticky unless you can start the curing with a heat gun, oven, direct sunlight, etc.

The majority of the coatings are rather thick resins. They can be thinned, but go on best when applied thicker with less coats. The Preval Sprayers work just like a spray can, and can be cleaned and reused. Most home Depot, Lowes, or other home supply stores carry them, but they can be hard to locate in the store.

mongo

· #9 · Apr 2, 2007

mr deviate. im about to order the satin black ceramic coat.

you reakon 12oz will coat the whole system from headers-midpipes-exhausts ??

cheers, mongo

Devious2xs

· #10 · Apr 2, 2007

Yes, 12 oz should do just fine.

J-Pip

· #11 · Apr 19, 2007

J-Pip said:
It looked like the titanium cured on the bike as well and didn't require an oven. I would rather do the titanium color than that black. Any expierience with this? I plan to apply it as soon as the snow falls, which is probably a couple weeks from now. Any feedback is appreciated.

LoL the snows gone now and I didn't get shit done in this... Glad I procrastinated.... I was going to go with the Titanium?

G

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 13, 2007

MONGO:

Did you end up coating your exhaust system? If so, how did it turn out and any pix? I think it would look BAD ass and provide some heat shielding.....win/win situation.

kartstar

· #13 · Jul 13, 2007

2

Not Mongo, but here's a pic of mine done in the ColorGuard polishable Stainless:

And (not a great shot of the header) on the bike:

See less See more

WannaTriple

· #14 · Jan 21, 2010

kart, do you have any more pics of your header after the coating? The coating looks more white than "stainless"

DoubleT

· #15 · Feb 15, 2010

I ordered the ceramic coating from caswell. it says you dont have to use an oven, but i have an oven and i was wondering what temp to set the oven to. i don't know how well it will cure on the bike at -5F outside. thanks

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