The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Painting Headers,How Do I?

Hello,I have removed My rusty headers and want to remove the rust and paint them with a high temp paint.I think after I wire brush them I will soak them in vinegar for a couple of days and then high pressure wash them before painting them.Does this sound like it will work?
As far as painting them what would work best? a rattle can paint or a brush on? how about Por-20? I want a good coating that won't burn off and will last for at least a couple of years.

if you want a paint that will last, get a couple of spray cans of catapillar muffler paint, it only comes in black, I have it on a set of headers and exhaust tubing now for 2 years and it is still going strong. Mike Bourg

I'll have to check that out,Theres a Cat store not far from me

Much written...much said about this. Most swear that the BEST way to ensure lasting appearance is to poweder coat but I personaly cannot say. Someone says the "best" thing to do is rub them down good with the old time polish folks put on wood heaters back years ago. Its still available and if/when needed just spruce the headers back up with a light coat! Someone here stated a while back that it worked good for them. Maybe do a search and see what you come up with?!

I always say, "once you have rust, you always have rust". I think cleaning and repainting will only be temporary at best. Recoating new headers with high quality high temp paint would be best but that's just my 2 cents worth,
Scott

I don't think powder coating will help. Header can reach temperatures of over 1500 degree F. Powder Coating temperatures melt at 425 degrees F. The only method that will work is Ceramic Coating. Caterpillar muffler paint will work. It's a shame it only comes in Black.

Frank

I gotta tell Ya, That Vinegar really takes the rust off.I will be getting some type of high temp paint tommorrow.Also to get the header off of the drivers side I have to take off the motor mount and pull the header out thru the engine compartment.I was going to take the clutch linkage off and pull the header off from under the truck.But thats pretty tough to do too.

Well I painted one of the headers today. I used a 12 oz can of Dupli-color "High Heat with Ceramic" And whats really cool is it is Orange!! They had a choice of a dark blue and the Orange..I chose Orange because I dont like blue. Anyway it is High Heat for up to 1200 degrees. I hope it lasts at least a couple of years.I am having trouble getting to one of the bolts holding My motor mount on but when I get to it I will be able to paint the other header... I am excited about getting them done now!!
Only problem now is I want to paint the Engine Block!!!

POR 20

Well, one of the problems with painting cast iron is that it is porous. Moisture can actually travel right through it eventually, although very slowly. While the 1200 degree paint won't melt off, moisture from the exhaust eventually seeps through the cast iron and gets behind the paint. There is nothing you can do about this, and it is also the reason that only graphite and ceramic stick to cast iron for very long- graphite just works more like a stain and hides any rust, and ceramic forms an impermeable barrier and just kind of encases the cast iron.

For me, I use BBQ paint. High heat, cheap to buy and I have over 2 years on one app on my Fentons. good for me.
dg

DGERTH has hit the nail right on the head !
We call it "Potbelly Black" in Australia....named after our cast iron pot belly wood fires.
It soaks into the cast iron and will withstand any ANY temperature that you can throw at it.
If any rust,light patches or repairs are needed, just paint on another layer.......will never discolor, peel or flake.
Worth every cent of it's $2 asking price for a tins' worth at the local hardware store, which will outlast not only the life of the vehicle, but your grandkids as well!

Many of the high heat paints suggest baking at 400 deg. for 30 minutes after spraying. I followed that and mine still look good after 2 years.

http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w186/curt160/exhaust/?action=view&current=heatpaint.jpg

I used the POR 20 Myself, It worked OK... I followed the instructions as directed, my wife wouldn't let me bake them in the oven so I removed one of the racks in my BBQ and put some aluminum foil on the bottom so the flames wouldn't touch the paint and turned it up as high as it would go and Baked them ! (for 30 min)
It worked ! "freaked my neighbors out" but it worked

I was trying to figure out how to 'heat treat' my headers also knowing that the wifey won't let me use her new oven. I never thought of using the BBQ grill. Duh! Now I don't have a gas grill so I have to figure out how much charcoal to use to get the right heat!!!