Technical Header paint

Is there a paint that can stand up to the heat of tube headers?

 

VHT and BBQ paint have served me well. I always sand blast before had as well.

 

I always used VHT. They need to be really clean before applying the paint.

 

BBQ grill paint has lasted a surprisingly long time on headers for me

 

BBQ paint has worked best for me. I’ve used it since the late 70’s on cars and motorcycles.

 

VHT.
Media blast first, then thoroughly clean/ degrease, then preheat with an oxy-acetalene torch, then 2-3 thin coats following the can's instructions.

 

I'm going to be painting some soon with VHT white header paint. I too agree with a cleaning, sanding and heating the headers up. My Dad use to put them in the kitchen oven, but I don't think I can get away with that. For black the BBQ paint works well too.

 

I'm sold on BBQ paint and agree with blasting them clean first. Cure in oven if they'll fit and with approval of the domestic manager. I do a thin one or two coat thinking paint build is not good.

Lynn

 

Cerakote Glacier series Black

https://www.cerakote.com/shop/cerakote-coating/C-7600/cerakote-glacier-black

 

You can't beat the look of White VHT. It's traditional.

 

I just did this a few months ago, I used Rustoleum High Heat Paint. It honestly has worked better than any other Paint i have used on exhaust in the past. I used a red scotch brite pad on the headers (they had old cooked off ceramic coating on them) Sprayed the headers with the Rustoleum then put them back on. started the car and let it idle till the headers started smoking, and then shut it down. I heat cycled them this way 6 times. then took it for a drive. They smoked a little, but hen just stopped smoking. The last picture is after a 4 hour drive up the freeways around DC on the way to TROG with my son Driving with his buddy Roscoe. This stuff is tuff. nearly 4,0000 mile later and they still look as good as the day I Painted them. The picture of the can is exactly what i used.

 

It's not cheap, but I used Zybar Header Coating System on mine. 6 years and still looks great!!
https://ZyCoat.com

 

The heat cycling as Jason mentioned really helps with paint.

 

I don't want to change the subject but this is sort of related, what about cast iron exhaust manifolds, same paint or something else altogether?

 

I bought a set of Sanderson headers for my nailhead, cleaned them well and painted them with VHT. They sat for about 4 years before I got the engine in the ch***is and ready to run. I started the engine and as the headers came up to temperature, the paint just fell off. Pulled them, cleaned and repainted with the same paint, put them on the car and the paint stayed on. If I remember right the VHT can says you have to heat cycle the paint, guess you just can't wait for 4 years.

 

You can't beat VHT in them flamed cans! These are 30 years old . Used the Nailhead Jason method of heat cycling back then. Just a little white showing where it gets real hot.
Bob

 

Asked many times. Check past threads. I will mention also that a fresh engine that has not been tuned almost always runs hotter. If the headers are new, they mention this.

 

Rick, I used POR15 exhaust manifold paint on the exhaust manifold on my inline, heated it on the bbq grille, brushed it on and baked it using the grill on a medium or so heat. Its been about 15 years since I did it and its holding up fantastic. I dont even know if the still sell that stuff anymore. Just looked, they do HIGH TEMP....But there ya go....Mitch

 

I used header paint primer then used regular header.

 

I used Eastwood brush on exhaust manifold paint. Looks as good as it did 15 years ago.

 

Rust-Oleum high heat worked great for me also, sandblasted and preheated the headers little smoke and no yellowing.CH=full]6625715[/ATTACH]