OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: PEZBerq on August 15, 2007, 09:28:11 pm

Title: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: PEZBerq on August 15, 2007, 09:28:11 pm
What paint brands can people recommend for use on engines.  I have stripped the paint off my Husky engine sidecovers and need something that will wont rub off the first time I ride it and also will take the heat.  Black gloss.

Same with the exhaust.  What paints have people found work best.

Thanks  Steve
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: zorroz on August 15, 2007, 09:49:29 pm
I've found that paint from super cheap and the likes designed for brake calipers works great. I've painted a few motors with satin black brake heat paint and its stays on well even with petrol all over it. They also have gloss black. You can buy PJ1 engine paint from a bike shop but cost twice as much and you get less. Exhaust get a hell of alot hotter so I've found the pot belly black stays on the rest just burn off.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: LWC82PE on August 19, 2007, 11:01:29 am
VHT if you can afford it otherwise go for something cheap. ive used VHT lots and it works well for me. i like the 1500 degrees flat black for exhausts. i have the pipe sand blasted and now ive just started using a white Spies Hecker etch primer on the pipe first to give the back something good to stick to. ive heard of people using black paint ment for paining those pot belly fire things too.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: oldscooler on October 03, 2007, 02:25:15 pm
DUPLI-COLOR black header paint, 1500deg...Its very durable and not too shiny. Covers well and makes your machine look like a million bucks!

EJ
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 03, 2007, 02:44:17 pm
Oldscool,
Where do you get Dupli colour and how much a can ??
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: holeshot buddy on October 03, 2007, 09:04:43 pm
to do it properly vht satin black for engines and flat for exhausts works great  ;)








it ran last time i started it  ;D
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: firko on October 03, 2007, 10:52:29 pm
For my exhaust on my Maicos I use el Cheapo satin black from The Warehouse, Go Lo or any of the $2 shop emporiums. Cheap as shit and it works a treat.I started prepping my Maico for the Wagga Nats today and my pipe doesn't need any paint after a pretty torrid thrashing at the Coffs Nats. I've tried the expensive ones (VHT, PJ1) and in my humble opinion they're no better than the cheap stuff.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: Maicojames on October 04, 2007, 11:24:55 am
Here in US, it seems about the same paints are available. I never had to use it on my former Maico(unfinished pipe, sand cast engine), but tried the PJ1 on a buddy's 77 KTM. That crap is horrible-it is all binder with no pigment. I realize they are a cycle comapny and all, but it seems to me that they are thinning the hell out of the paint. It is even thinner than the lacquer I sprayed on cars in 1980s.-and that was thinned at 150%. Save the frustration and use Dupli-Color or VHT for engines, I can't say for exhausts. 
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: LWC82PE on October 04, 2007, 08:45:14 pm
also give HPC coatings a go. it costs more than a can of paint but it lasts for ever and wont burn off. ive seen harleys done with it and there is no blueing,or changes in colour like normal chrome. you can get it in black too. ive considered doing it but at the the moment im happy to repaint pipes once a yr with 1500 deg VHT flameproof coating
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: picklediddy on October 17, 2007, 04:43:30 pm
My Local Powdercoater Roberto @ E.L Lewis in Brissy

Has developed a temp resistant Powdercoat for pipes

My 83 cr is in there now

Might get him to laser etch the engine as well

Will have pics soon

Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: Hoony on October 17, 2007, 04:47:16 pm
what is laser etching ?
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: 090 on October 17, 2007, 08:03:57 pm
With  HPC the chap in Queensland who does it will only do a new pipe as the carbon deposits etc contaminate the process
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 18, 2007, 09:57:46 am
I have heard people mentioning using clear paint on exhausts, I have just bought a retro rocket pipe which looks awsome unpainted but it won't stay that way for long, can anyone tell me if they have used clear and if so what was it??
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: LWC82PE on October 18, 2007, 08:51:29 pm
those trick unpainted pipes have always had me concerned about rusting but i believe the trick is to coat/rub them down with oil and dont leave water on them (dry them off after washing)
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: cyclegod on October 19, 2007, 11:04:07 am
I have heard people mentioning using clear paint on exhausts, I have just bought a retro rocket pipe which looks awsome unpainted but it won't stay that way for long, can anyone tell me if they have used clear and if so what was it??

DON'T use clear paint on exhausts have a look at what the clear paint looks like after a few rides
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2006%5C12%5C29%5Cbikepics-758319-full.jpg
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 22, 2007, 11:50:32 am
Are you talkin about the stuff DG puts on the exhaust? i know that goes black but it looks like something else besides clear, its like a golden colour to start with.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 26, 2007, 09:06:39 am
Cyclegod,
Did you use the VHT clear ??  Ceratinly not a good result that you had  :(
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 26, 2007, 09:23:30 am
so does VHT make a clear?
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 26, 2007, 09:33:14 am
Yep,  I've got a can at the farm.  It's high temp (500 degrees from memory) engine paint.  May not be good enough for the exhaust or the head ???  I'll check it out on the week-end.  I was going to beadblast the head on the 250 and paint it clear.  Now I'm not so sure.
I've heard of people rubbing the pipe down after each outing with a scotchbrite pad and WD 40 (refer Project YZ).  He didn't have any luck with the clear on the pipe either, but he doesn't say which paint he used.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 26, 2007, 11:47:31 am
OK, i called VHT in melbourne ( Speco Thomas) and spoke with the tech paint guy who showed me the stuff under fame proof section, part number SP115, and they recon it WILL NOT go black unless there is another coating already on the metal... so its off to the hardware.. bet they won't have it ha ha
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 26, 2007, 01:36:42 pm
TonyB (that's a great name  ;))
If you can't find any let me know and I will retrace my steps and see if I can find some.  Can't remember where I got mine ::)  Thats what happens when you get old  ;D
So the head and exhaust plan is back on then ??
looks like you are the test case TonyB.  Some photos of the pipe  (before riding and after riding) would be good too as I'm considering one for the YZ250H.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: DJRacing on October 26, 2007, 01:44:27 pm
The stuff (paint) on a DG pipe is shellac. As the pipe gets hot it starts to darken and gets that golden colour and goes darker (black) closer to the exhaust port. I tryed shellac on one of my pipes (vintage-Iron) and it went that colour but it has burnt off closer to the exhaust port.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: LWC82PE on October 26, 2007, 03:51:06 pm
any 500 degree VHt or what ever brand should be fine for the head but for the exhaust you really want something rated at 1500 degrees i reckon ive mentioned this before but VHT flame proof coating (1500 deg) is pretty good. i wonder how good 2 pack clear paint would be for pipes? ive used 2 pack black paint on lots of british barrels and heads including sidevalve motors and they get pretty hot and the paint stays good on them, but im not sure if it could withstand pipe temperatures.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 26, 2007, 03:55:58 pm
yz250H or should i call you Tony? the Retro rocket pipe looks great except for the main bend under the tank which was made in 3 lobsters instead of 4 or 5 so the bend looks amaturish but i have been assured by them that it has won many races and produces muich better power than the dg unit. I will soon know as i did have the dg pipe on it. I will also be fitting the V force reeds. i will take pickies showing pipe soon, but for now i am going overseas for 2 wweeks so it won't be untill then...
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 29, 2007, 10:08:55 am
TonyB,
Yep, you can certainly call me Tony.  That's why I've got this dodgy YZ250H tag - TonyB was already taken  ;D ;D
The can I've got in the cupboard is SP115, so it seems we are talking about the same thing.  I'll be very interested to see how it goes.
Look forward to seeing your photos.  Boneheads Pro Form looks good too. So do GMC"s pipes.  So many choices  :-\ :-\
Enjoy your trip OS.
Cheers
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: TonyB on October 30, 2007, 02:30:17 am
Hi TonyB , well I'm in Sweden and its 5 degrees rain is horizontal and I'm missing oz like mad already and its only been 24 hours!! :o
I noticed my pipe was starting to rust so i went down to the local repco and they had some clear VHT so I hurredly dersuted the pipe and painted it before I rushed off to the airport, and it looks nice and shiny...   
PS Oh so many beautiful woman in Sweden, shame about the weather.
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: YZ250H on October 30, 2007, 01:23:57 pm
TonyB,
It's hard life being in Sweden  :P

Post some photos when you get back please. (of the pipe and the women)
Cheers
Title: Re: Best paints for engines and exhausts
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on October 30, 2007, 09:53:32 pm
I have a GMC pipe on my 73 Honda and after about 2 seasons the "nickel cad" (I think it is) started to show signs of wear and tear mainly through chipping.  Had the pipe acid dipped and then etched and painted myself with satin black VHT exhaust paint - have touched up numerous times since with 500 degree paint and even high pressure clean it periodically to prep for painting.  The VHT paint hasn't burnt off - regardless of 500 or 1500 - and more often than not sticks like preverbial baby poo and wont come off under 1800 psi cleaning.

As I said earlier - ya gets what you pay for and I am reallllllllllll happy with the VHT.

cheers

Rossco