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MG MGB Technical - Electric Spray Gums

Hello All,

After some advice on the V8 group regarding exhaust header heat issues, I find I have to spray a ceramic coating on my exhaust headers, I have the ceramic paint, but no access to a compressor or air gun with which to apply it. Apparently brushing is a no-no since it has to go on to a specified even depth (no idea how I'll measure that).

Has anyone had any expereince with electric spray guns ? bear in mind this is not for a paint finish, just a ceramic coating where the aesthetics are not so important.

Thanks, Liam
Liam H

Liam, I'd be cautious and check the gun for how it's rated for working with flamable paints. Most of the electric sprayers I've seen were designed for use with water based paints. Might be a fire hazard with the electricy and a flamable paint. As far as paint depth goes, there are gauges that professional body men use that work with magnets to gauge paint thickness. Might work for you, but as a rule of thumb I guess each coat would be around 1mil.
Bill Young

Good point, Bill. That had not occured to me - this stuff is definitely flammable.
Liam H

You may find that you can rent a spraygun and a compressor. I will cost a bit but that would be better than making a mess of the job.

Rich McKIe

I've looked at a number of these coatings, and most can be brushed or even dipped. Anyone except a very experienced painter is going to get thickness variations with a spray gun, especially on anything like a header. These will easily be as great or greater than with brush-on application. It ain't rocket science, though the makers probably come from that realm and that regulatory environment. The rule is that it all needs to be covered, but twenty coats will fall off when it gets hot.
FRM
FR Millmore

It says on the can that I need to go for a thickness of .01 to .015 mm! Which doesn't seem much. I think I'd be guessing anyway.

Liam
Liam H

I guess my post didnt go through.

You can buy for pretty cheap a airbrush from a model/hobby shop. They have compressed air cans, and you can even buy an adapter to use the air from your car tire. They arent professional $200 airbrush kits but they will give you the coverage you need. Definetly check them out as an option. The only other think I could think of is you might have to thin the mix to have it spray well. Should depend on what type of nozzle.
James

What would it cost to take the can of coating and the headers to a body shop and have them professionally sprayed? Do body shops offer cash discounts for small jobs?
Kimberly

My friend who helps me with my MGB had a process called Jet-Hot applied to his manifold. It is an inside and outside ceramic material. Of course, we are in the US.

Diane
D M Vinar

I've got a wagner electric spray gun, not so good. Good enough for painting your sail boat, or house, but, have you ever seen one used in a professional paint shop. Not me, not ever. Competition in the auto industry is fierce. If these guys could save some money, give themselves an edge, and get away with it I'm pretty sure that they would give it a go.
Peter

Yea but thats for painting the body...

Is the ceramic coating a certain texture? Color? You can do a test strip with the wagner on a part under the car, Im sure you worried just about the headers and how it will look when you open the hood up.
james

In reply to Kimberley,
Body shops, if they are willing tyo take on small jobs would probably charge more.
You need to do the same amount of cleaning of equipment for a small job as for a big job, it doesn't pay as much and disrupts production. And to top it off tubular parts tend to be very difficult to paint.
That thickness range seems to be pretty variable, and quite thin. Maybe there is a problem if it is applied too thick. I would sandblast the header and then just carefully brush it on. If you use a fine brush (or a foam brush if it doesn't melt) you should be able to get a good surface.

Rich
Rich McKIe

This thread was discussed between 22/03/2007 and 23/03/2007

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