Best way to finish steel headers?

**nzspokes** · 14th December 2014, 19:45

Im going to need to re-finish some steel headers as they are rusty. What is the best way to paint/coat them so it lasts?

**bogan** · 14th December 2014, 19:51

How badly rusted? Unless you can get em back to silky smooth finish there's not much point in getting them coated. Even then, just get some stainless ones is probably cost effective anyway.

**nzspokes** · 14th December 2014, 19:57

Originally Posted by bogan

How badly rusted? Unless you can get em back to silky smooth finish there's not much point in getting them coated. Even then, just get some stainless ones is probably cost effective anyway.

Not nasty. but on the bike they can been seen. Getting the frame powder coated so may as well get the headers done at the same time.

**haydes55** · 14th December 2014, 22:08

Get that proper exhaust paint, get the pipes hot and paint them. If you do it right, that paint stays on real good. And looks pretty tidy

**Grumph** · 15th December 2014, 05:16

Get them grit blasted first otherwise it's just wasted effort. Then the correct paint.

**Akzle** · 15th December 2014, 06:20

cerakote .

**00quattro00** · 15th December 2014, 18:31

Bbq paint is quite effective

**Big Dog** · 15th December 2014, 18:46

Originally Posted by 00quattro00

Bbq paint is quite effective

BBQ paint pits quite quickly by comparison IME.
And its a bastard to clean off if you want to repair the job the previous owner did.

Looks great at first but if it gets mud on it eats the paint as it goes through heat cycles.

Took hours with a wire wheel.
Get proper exhaust paint on the other hand it looks kind of average when you first do it but a few heat cycles later it looks like it was glazed in a kiln.

**Murray** · 15th December 2014, 19:22

Originally Posted by haydes55

Get that proper exhaust paint, get the pipes hot and paint them. If you do it right, that paint stays on real good. And looks pretty tidy

where do you get that and what is it??

**nzspokes** · 15th December 2014, 19:36

Originally Posted by Murray

where do you get that and what is it??

I was wondering the same.

**Tazz** · 15th December 2014, 19:40

Originally Posted by Murray

where do you get that and what is it??

vht from memory

and POR-15 I think? POR-15 rust stuff is the fucking business, so if they do exhaust paint too I'd run with it (even if it is spendy)

**nzspokes** · 15th December 2014, 19:52

Originally Posted by Tazz

vht from memory

and POR-15 I think? POR-15 rust stuff is the fucking business, so if they do exhaust paint too I'd run with it (even if it is spendy)

Oh cool. Ive heard of that stuff before. Price is not so much the issue as getting it right.

And I cant paint for shit so would find somebody that can.

**Haggis2** · 15th December 2014, 20:15

www.hpcoatings.co.nz I had the VTR headers done, I can't vouch for longevity but the finish, service and IMHO price was pretty good. The pipes are blasted before being recoated.

**nzspokes** · 15th December 2014, 20:25

Originally Posted by Haggis2

www.hpcoatings.co.nz I had the VTR headers done, I can't vouch for longevity but the finish, service and IMHO price was pretty good. The pipes are blasted before being recoated.

What kind of cost? Has it lasted ok on the VTR ones?

As my VTR ones are a bit manky.