Stipping paint off Ceramic Coated header. Suggestions?

[OCB]

Looking for some advice. I got a great deal on a used ceramic coated header for my Acura Integra. The only problem is the header was painted and a bunch of it has fallen off making it look bad. Otherwise the header is in perfect shape!

From the searches I have done it sounds to me like painting a header is futile. I was thinking of ways to get this paint off the header (aircraft stripper etc) but I don't want to damage the ceramic coat.

What are my options. I didn't buy this header for looks. I mostly wanted to get rid of my stock header rattle at 3500RPM and maybe some slight performance gains. If it is possible to get it back to the ceramic that would be great.

Any suggestions? Thxs

 

[labman]

Brush or spray brake fluid on it, let it set a few hours, and hose it off. Won't hurt the ceramic, but destroys any paint. If you have an old can setting around, use it up and buy fresh when you need it. I think a lot of problems with brake fluid comes from old stuff that set around in an unsealed can.

 

[OCB]

Thanks labman.... I was just at auto zone and was told that aircraft stripper should work and would not hurt the ceramic either.... Any thoughts. I don't trust those guys with anything.

 

[kenw]

why "aircraft stripper"? Sounds like overpriced lacquer thinner to me.

any decent lacquer thinner would do it, assuming it IS lacquer paint of course. Home Depot/Lowe's sell it by the gallon. Lacquer thinner will not hurt the ceramic coating.

Brake fluid is a great but very slow paint remover. try it first.

 

[rgl]

Brake fluid will take off some kinds of paint, won't touch others. If after a couple hours you scrape it and at least some of the paint has not softened, you should try a more aggressive stripper. Paint stripper, that is.

I get stripper for free from the city hazardous waste drop off, you are allowed to take useable stuff they have been given, some is brand new. They also had 5 quarts of Type F transmission fluid yesterday...

 

[punisher]

quote:

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Originally posted by kenw:
why "aircraft stripper"? Sounds like overpriced lacquer thinner to me.

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No sir. Aircraft stripper is made to remove Imron or similar paint. It is nasty and you don't want to use it on fiberglass body panels. It will eat right through the gelcoat and into the fiberglass itself. Wear a respirator if working in an enclosed space.

 

[kenw]

If it is Imron, it's a polyurethane. I wouldn't use that anywhere under the hood for the reasons you mention. Thanx for the insight.

 

[OCB]

For clarification. The header is off the motor. So I can easily work with it. I bought a can of Aircraft stripper spray. It reads

".....will effectively remove finsishes from metal surfaces of automobiles, trucks and cycles. it is effective on acrylics, lacquers, polyurethanes, baked enamels and epoxies."

Is ceramic a "baked enamel" I've now talked to a couple of people about this and they tell me it shouldn't harm the ceramic coat. I guess it is worth a try.

 

[kenw]

go for it. As long as it is off the engine you should be fine. good luck.

 

[OCB]

thxs!

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by OCB:

Is ceramic a "baked enamel" I've now talked to a couple of people about this and they tell me it shouldn't harm the ceramic coat. I guess it is worth a try.

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Ceramic is ceramic. If it's the real thing, stripper shouldn't hurt it. Ask the company that did the headers to be safe. A lot of stuff sold in the automotive after market is called things it isn't.

 

[OCB]

The header is made by DC Sports. Which seems to be a respected company. Thanks!

 

[kreigle]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:

quote:

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Originally posted by OCB:

Is ceramic a "baked enamel" I've now talked to a couple of people about this and they tell me it shouldn't harm the ceramic coat. I guess it is worth a try.

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Ceramic is ceramic. If it's the real thing, stripper shouldn't hurt it. Ask the company that did the headers to be safe. A lot of stuff sold in the automotive after market is called things it isn't.

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I have a Holley Airmass "ceramic coated" header. It is 1/1/2 yrs old, and the 'ceramic' has rusted through and peeled in a couple places.

From what I saw when I sanded it back down to re-paint, the so-called ceramic coating is nothing more that a 'ceramic-based'? paint - I went out to Advance Auto and bought 1500 degree High-Temp ceramic paint to do the touch-up re-painting.

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:
The header is made by DC Sports. Which seems to be a respected company. Thanks!

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I also seen used DC sports headers on ebay with the same rust-though of the coating that my header has.