Advice & experience with sanding/painting extractors

[bidzr]

Hi guys

I have just purchased a set of HSV VY2 headers & cats and they have quite a bit of surface rust. Now if they ever turn up (as the courier company has misplaced them) I was thinking about sanding and painting them. I like the look of ceramic coating but I would rather spent the $300 on other things.

I have heard some positive and negative things about VHT paint so I'm wondering whether it's worth the effort.

What products have people used that have lasted and what should I stay away from?

Any info and experiences with this sort of thing would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Jase

[raff]

I know you said you don't want to spend the coin but I recently had a set of used VE HSV headers ceramic coated after considering sandblasting and painting them myself- Im glad I spent the money, they look brand new inside and out and the added bonus of reducing under bonnet temps. I wouldn't bother with painting the outside as most paints will jot last (even the pacemaker hi temp paint wears off quickly) and if your worried about rust, exhausts rust from the inside out, so painting the outside will do little for corrosion prevention. Spend the coin and do it right the 1st time if you plan to hold onto the car for a year or more.

Cheers

Raff

[raff]

My coated headers
http://emob1188.photobucket.com/albums/z417/raffzzz/SS%20Sportwagon/IMG_8603.jpg

[AF20NC]

The best way I have found is to first sandblast the extractors and then hang them up and preheat with a hot air gun till they are warm they spray them with vht exhaust paint then refit and follow there instructions on the can for heating up and cooling down to cure the paint after this you will have a professional looking set of extractors for under $100

[VNV8]

I was in a similar boat with my headers, remember theyre stainless steel so shouldnt rust, they just seem to get that surface rust-type look from the heat as the metal used isnt the best. I ended up painting them with VHT flameproof and 4 years & 30,000k's on they still look excellent. I would guess alot of folks who complain about the longevity have used the engine enamel which has about half the temperature rating from memory. the flameproof stuff is pretty much designed for exhausts.

Just sanded them back, wiped down with wax & grease remover, one light coat and two thorough coats. I dont think there's any need for heating them up as the paint sticks fine (after light [think 800-1200 grit] sanding) and the natural heating & cooling cycle from daily running will accomplish curing in a couple days.

for a cost of about $20 for a can I dont think you can beat it.

[bidzr]

I know you said you don't want to spend the coin but I recently had a set of used VE HSV headers ceramic coated after considering sandblasting and painting them myself- Im glad I spent the money, they look brand new inside and out and the added bonus of reducing under bonnet temps. I wouldn't bother with painting the outside as most paints will jot last (even the pacemaker hi temp paint wears off quickly) and if your worried about rust, exhausts rust from the inside out, so painting the outside will do little for corrosion prevention. Spend the coin and do it right the 1st time if you plan to hold onto the car for a year or more.

Cheers

Raff

Thanks mate. Yours came up very nicely, makes me want to go down this track. Like you said I'm worried about most paints just peeling off. Did you have to sand them back before you sent them off? also if you dont mind me asking how much did it set you back to get the HSV's coated?

[bidzr]

The best way I have found is to first sandblast the extractors and then hang them up and preheat with a hot air gun till they are warm they spray them with vht exhaust paint then refit and follow there instructions on the can for heating up and cooling down to cure the paint after this you will have a professional looking set of extractors for under $100


I was in a similar boat with my headers, remember theyre stainless steel so shouldnt rust, they just seem to get that surface rust-type look from the heat as the metal used isnt the best. I ended up painting them with VHT flameproof and 4 years & 30,000k's on they still look excellent. I would guess alot of folks who complain about the longevity have used the engine enamel which has about half the temperature rating from memory. the flameproof stuff is pretty much designed for exhausts.

Just sanded them back, wiped down with wax & grease remover, one light coat and two thorough coats. I dont think there's any need for heating them up as the paint sticks fine (after light [think 800-1200 grit] sanding) and the natural heating & cooling cycle from daily running will accomplish curing in a couple days.

for a cost of about $20 for a can I dont think you can beat it.

Thanks for the info guys. Did you use flameproof primer before painting and flameproof clear coat after? If I'm going to go down this route I want to be sure that it's not just going to peel off in a few weeks. I will have a better look at the extractors when and if I receive them as I can only go by photo's regarding there condition.

AF20NC - if you dont mind me asking, how much did it set you back to get them sandblasted or did you do this yourself?

[raff]

Thanks mate. Yours came up very nicely, makes me want to go down this track. Like you said I'm worried about most paints just peeling off. Did you have to sand them back before you sent them off? also if you dont mind me asking how much did it set you back to get the HSV's coated?

I used Jethot and they sand blast the headers and check for any damage before applying the coating- this is included in the price where as HPC charge around $60 if the headers are used. My headers were $280 plus postage. Longer headers like the VY I think are $320. I posted mine on Tuesday and had them back by the following Monday morning.

Check out http://www.jet-hot.com.au/applingjet-hot.htm for the process info.

Cheers

Raff

[bidzr]

I used Jethot and they sand blast the headers and check for any damage before applying the coating- this is included in the price where as HPC charge around $60 if the headers are used. My headers were $280 plus postage. Longer headers like the VY I think are $320. I posted mine on Tuesday and had them back by the following Monday morning.

Check out http://www.jet-hot.com.au/applingjet-hot.htm for the process info.

Cheers

Raff

Thanks mate. I will definitely look into it.

PS. Loving your audio set up, quality install and very neat, was hoping for a similar set up myself. :goodjob: