VHT ceramic coated header how-to

[lowkey]

Hey all, thought I'd do a how-to on coating your header with VHT "flameproof" ceramic paint. Here is a list of supplies I used:

VHT sp100 "flat grey primer"
VHT sp998 "cast iron"
VHT sp115 "satin clear"
"brake clean" aerosol spray
steel wool
heat gun
blue painters tape
painters tack cloth
snapring pliers

supplies with the finished product

Ok, with the header off the bike you will need to remove the retaining ring so you can remove the flanges

With the flanges off, take the steel wool and polish up the tips. Give the whole header a rub down with the steel wool.
before:

after:

Mask off the portion where the header slips into the heads and into the muffler. Take the header and hang it off a tree with a metal hanger through the flange. Heat it to 110 degrees and spray it down with the brake clean. This will leave the surface clean, you can also go over with the tack cloth if need be.

With the header heated to 100ish degrees start the first coat of primer, lay it on light. See how you can look through the primer to the metal under?

Second and third coat of primer, try to keep the header temp at 100 degrees and wipe down with the tack cloth to knock off the paint "dust" between coats.

Now I laid down 2 light/medium coats of the "cast iron" color

No pictures of the clear process as it was to dark for good shots but I did 2 med coats.

 

[lowkey]

reserved for installation

 

[snrusnak]

Cool man. Nice job. Although I'm guessing this isn't actually nearly as durable as real ceramic coating....?

 

[FIREFIGHT100]

I really like that color.

 

[Route0766]

Cool!

 

[xtreme]

I am really interested to see how this stuff holds up! Please continue to post pics as you rack up the mileage!!

 

[lowkey]

Cool man. Nice job. Although I'm guessing this isn't actually nearly as durable as real ceramic coating....?

Well when you add it up this cost almost the same plus the time/labor (as your local ceramic coating shop). From the hotrod and import guys info I read this method is FAR superior to jet-hot coating or your local powdercoater doing a ceramic coat job as far as heat retention goes. Also supposed to but bulletproof as long as the instructions are followed to a T as far as durability. We shall see but It won't be getting the heat that those turbo cars see. It should be fine for an XB if it can hold up to those conditions. swaintech is the best option but the "white lightning" look bad IMO and would need a second coating for cosmetic. That option is just more than I'm willing to spend on these. There are a few other specialty coating companies that would be comparable but so would the price. I always have the option to wrap these if the heat is bad but I have the Ulysses comfort header cover on its way too.

 

[snrusnak]

What temperature is it resistant too? I just find it hard to believe that something out of a rattle can is as durable as the real thing. I got a quote for 2,000 deg ceramic coating(reputable company and not jet hot...it's local) for $250 for the header and muffler. I didn't think that was too bad considering it should last damn near forever.

Not knocking you it is a nice job just curious as to how it compares to the real thing.

 

[lowkey]

What temperature is it resistant to?

2000 degrees

Just look around for yourself... I would have rather dropped it off at a ceramic coating place and been done with it. I like that crome/silver look but like I said and read all over, those coatings are more cosmetic than good heat retention. I'm with you on being skeptical of rattle can products but it is what it is and many happy users across the net with up to 7 years of excellent finish is what I've found. That's from people who had previously had their headers coated at shops and were less than pleased... so a direct comparison.

I used to work at a air cooled VW mailorder that did their own exhausts. They were ceramic coated in the crome/silver but It was more for durability from rust than anything as they were mild steel.

 

[Blaylock1988]

most ceramic coatings from shops do the inside and out, you wont be able to shoot the inside unless you have some crazy equipment.

 

[netty2424]

I think those pipes turned out nice! good job! [up] I like that color.

 

[GAXB9R]

Looks good[up] Thanks for the info.

 

[bigrodge8]

You have to post some pics of that installed.

 

[lowkey]

So as of October 26th, 2015 which is over 3 years since I did this project, this is how the header looks after lots and lots of miles!

 

[user_deleted]

they look incredible. where done and how much if you recall?

 

[cjanderson_90]

Wow I really like that bronze color. It really updates the look of the bike. Maybe I should get mine coated this winter

 

[lowkey]

they look incredible. where done and how much if you recall?

Haha in my back yard bud! check the first page, or a joke?

 

[34nineteen]

Looks great! Thanks for the long term follow up!