Did I ask it the wrong way?

[kent_in_kc]

Hi, I'm a new guy here. I make custom motorcycle exhaust and am going to use Chromex ceramic and high-temp powder. So far, since I bought my supplies and joined this forum, I've asked a few questions and emailed a couple folks direct. To date, I've not gotten a single reply.

Is it my breath? Have I been impolite?

Seriously, if someone could shoot me some info I'd sure appreciate it. Here's the gist of what I'd like to know:

In my application, high temp headers, is there any significant advantage to coating with either HT powder or ceramic? I know ceramic is a bit of a thermal insulator. Otherwise, any major diffs in durability, gloss, ease of application, etc? I've got one friend that swears HT PC will eventually peel and blister. I think that is a matter of surface prep, but I dunno.

I would like a thick, maybe somewhat pebbly finish to mask minor surface imperfections. How would I achieve that?

If I shoot Chromex then buff it out with steel wool or whatever but then DON'T clear coat it, I understand it will eventually oxidize. How bad is that? Is there any reason why that couldn't be resolved by polishing the pipes occasionally with a chrome or metal polish? I might like to skip the clear coat to keep the bright 'chromey' look.

Finally, is iron phosphate a good undercoat for ceramic as well as powder?

Thanks, fellas, for your time. I know what a pain us newbies can be, but I'm trying to pay attention. I appreciate your help.

[SCOTTRODS]

Hi, I'm a new guy here. I make custom motorcycle exhaust and am going to use Chromex ceramic and high-temp powder. So far, since I bought my supplies and joined this forum, I've asked a few questions and emailed a couple folks direct. To date, I've not gotten a single reply.

Is it my breath? Have I been impolite?

Seriously, if someone could shoot me some info I'd sure appreciate it. Here's the gist of what I'd like to know:

In my application, high temp headers, is there any significant advantage to coating with either HT powder or ceramic? I know ceramic is a bit of a thermal insulator. Otherwise, any major diffs in durability, gloss, ease of application, etc? I've got one friend that swears HT PC will eventually peel and blister. I think that is a matter of surface prep, but I dunno.

I would like a thick, maybe somewhat pebbly finish to mask minor surface imperfections. How would I achieve that?

If I shoot Chromex then buff it out with steel wool or whatever but then DON'T clear coat it, I understand it will eventually oxidize. How bad is that? Is there any reason why that couldn't be resolved by polishing the pipes occasionally with a chrome or metal polish? I might like to skip the clear coat to keep the bright 'chromey' look.

Finally, is iron phosphate a good undercoat for ceramic as well as powder?

Thanks, fellas, for your time. I know what a pain us newbies can be, but I'm trying to pay attention. I appreciate your help.

If you're coating HIGH TEMP anything, The coating to use will be ceramics. Especially motorcycle exhausts.... The big trick is to coat inside and outside of the pipes. You will give your pipes an extra performance edge, that will not be apparent in coating just the outside.

It is possible that someone else will offer up an opposing view, but you Might be able to coat inside with ceramic, then the outside with a high temp powder and get away with it. Prep is the most important part of coating with anything, including wet paint and powders and ceramics. Improper prep will ulitmatel cause failure of one degree or another.

No Phosphating beneath Ceramics.

I have read others polishing the chromex once in a while, so that sounds very feasible.

To get a finish with a little texture, you're gonna have to use VERY coarse grit Blasting media. Nothing else will give you a texture heavy enough to disguise imperfections....

And Of Course,... It's your breath..... (kidding)

Look for other replies to add on, or possibly correct my less than extensive knowledge of ceramics and high temp powders.

[kent_in_kc]

Thanks, pal. I appreciate the reply. I was starting to think I was in the Twilight Zone, no one could see or hear me. Yikes!

Okay, so that helps me a lot. Any tips on coating the inside of the pipes? I'm thinking about dropping a fish chain down through the pipe, using that to drag a sponge back and forth dipped in ceramic.

I checked out several of your posts and pics of your stuff. You do nice work!

[Harleydad]

No phos under the high temp powders either.

[SCOTTRODS]

Thanks, pal. I appreciate the reply. I was starting to think I was in the Twilight Zone, no one could see or hear me. Yikes!

Okay, so that helps me a lot. Any tips on coating the inside of the pipes? I'm thinking about dropping a fish chain down through the pipe, using that to drag a sponge back and forth dipped in ceramic.

I checked out several of your posts and pics of your stuff. You do nice work!

Thanks,....

I think the sponge through the pipe is a creative idea for an odd issue. Others have done similar and some have even made sprayers out of sprinkler head type nozzles, and other still, plug one end and "slosh" the ceramic around inside. As I said before, I get all my info from the guys that do a lot of cceramic stuff. I pass on good info (at least it seems good... LOL), I pick up from 4 different powder/ceramic forums.

Good luck with you attempts, may they be successful. Please keep us updated and Post pics of final finish.

[kent_in_kc]

No phos under the high temp powders either.

Sounds like I have no use for my phosphate! Thanks, friend.

[Harleydad]

Sounds like I have no use for my phosphate! Thanks, friend.

Use it under regular powders.

[FigureLLC]

for the internal, don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. use a ceramic that's made for flow coating, i.e. the "slosh" method. we use nic cerakote thermal barrier.

i also don't do high-temp powders. if it's questionable it gets ceramic.