Clear coating, the epic continues..

[non-stick]

is it necessary to force the solvent out of the VHT? I'm not familiar with the product or what it says on the can at all but I'd think your main problem here is the heat. Is it possible to not put it in those eleveated temperatures?

[skiddz]

The label on the can says (and I quote) "VHT Flameproof coatings will air dry in 15 to 30 minutes. Baking at 250F for 30 minutes, then 30 minutes at 400F, then 30 minutes at 650F, improves finish and provides a durable surface for solvent resistance.... Run heat source until hot then let cool for 30 minutes, run the heat source again until hot then allow to cool for 30 minutes."

I'm pretty sure I followed the directions well (although I did the 2nd step at 350 instead of 400) and looking at the part in the sunlight, it appears as if the part blued *and* the coating turned dark. It's actually kinda cool looking, but not what I was going for.

As for the time vs. money thing, that's a valid point, but I've got enough of the former, none of the latter. This project has gone way past what I'd initially budgeted and my Master Card is starting to melt.. heheh

i did the same thing that the stated and i got better results from the heat on the motor ... the oven changed it bad .... but i was using a red not clear

[skiddz]

I'm going to shoot a note off to the VHT folks to ask 'em WTF is up with this. Got the brake lever polished up today (man I hate polishing stamped steel) and am gonna clear/cook it just up to the 400 degree mark and see what happens. The shift lever looked pretty good when it came out of the 350 degree cook.. Maybe 650 is too much for a 1200 degree rated coating. hehehe

[skiddz]

Finished polishing up the brake lever and shot some VHT clear on it.. let it dry, looked pretty good. Not quite the "in your face" shine the non-coated part gives ya, but good. Preheated the oven to 250, chucked the part in for 30 mins, let it cool.

The VHT definitely discolors a bit. It took a bit of a yellowish cast with just this one curing step.. I'm not too happy with the results using this stuff.. I'm not even going to attempt the 400 degree step...