Eastwood Engine Paint Universal Aluminum

[chuck hahn]

Once is out of the oven let it cool to room temp before dipping it.

[08rangerdan]

My can of VHT says 1 hour at 200F. Did that and now it's back in at 250F for some additional time. Want to make sure this stuff is as hard as possible.

I'll do a cross hatch adhesion test first then dunk one end in gas. Tomorrow I'll dunk the other end in lacquer thinner. Good fun.

My current can says 2 hour..? Maybe the engine paint times are different then the other products

[Nessism]

The metal sample was abraded using a sanding sponge followed by degreasing. Paint cured for 1 hour at 200, then 250 for 1 hour (next day). Paint was smelly while curing so something was going on there.

Test #1) Crosshatch test. The paint cracked and chunks fell off before even applying the tape. This paint is very brittle and doesn't adhere well to raw metal. Maybe a primer should have been used?

Test #2) Gasoline soak. Results TBD.

[chuck hahn]

What is that paint supposed to be for Ed?? Is it engine paint? Am a bit confused as you said something about engine paint maybe being different.

[Nessism]

It's VHT engine paint chuck.

Just checked the gasoline soaking test and the paint has already failed. It's soft and starting to lift on the edges after 1.5 hours. I'm sure it will survive some incidental fuel spillage, but you definitely don't want gas dwelling on this stuff though.

[chuck hahn]

Wow..ive not had so much as one biitch about the engines ive painted with their stuff. The directions on the label that i took opics of and sent to Dale said something about using an adhesion agent. Dont quote me on the exact wording though.

[Nessism]

Just looked at the can and it does say to use primer for best adhesion.

The gas soak test shows the paint is softened some, and peeling on the edges, but decently solid in the center. Will post photos in a couple more hours.

[rustybronco]

Lifting around the edges is what I would have expected it to do.

[rustybronco]

Received a reply from Bill Hirsch

Today at 11:45 AM
Hi Dale,

We have a silver/aluminum hi temp exhaust paint but I don't think it will stand up well to fuel spills and leaks.
We also a silver moisture cured urethane that will stand up to anything, except paint remover and high temp. as it was actually designed to be a paint over rust paint. There is one more that might work and that is our aluminum engine enamel, which is a high temp paint and pretty much resistant to fuel spills.

Bill

In a message dated 1/17/2014 11:26:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

It didn't answer my initial question about colour match but at least they responded. I can't say that about Eastwood.

[08rangerdan]

You did air cure the paint for 24 hours before the oven?

[08rangerdan]

An etching primer should always be used on steel unless you know there are no waxes or grease remaining in the pores. I always sandblast steel or any metal before paint. When i cant sandblast i always use a chemical etch on aluminum because paint has a hard time curing to bare aluminum unless it has a good etch

[Nessism]

You did air cure the paint for 24 hours before the oven?

No I didn't. Instructions don't tell you too. Just to make sure it's "dry" first.

An etching primer should always be used on steel unless you know there are no waxes or grease remaining in the pores. I always sandblast steel or any metal before paint. When i cant sandblast i always use a chemical etch on aluminum because paint has a hard time curing to bare aluminum unless it has a good etch

I abraded the metal and degreased right before painting.

A primer might have helped the adhesion. The paint cracked and flaked right off during the crosshatch cutting.

As for the gas soak, the paint is softened and lifted on the edges where the film build was lower. In the center of the part the paint is thicker it didn't lift during the gas soak but the paint is really soft and you can scrape it right off with a fingernail.

[rustybronco]

An etching primer should always be used on steel

Not true. Epoxy primers work very well on steel and in my opinion surpass what etching primers are capable of doing. Put an epoxy primer over steel and leave it to the elements then try the same with an etch.

That's not to say there is anything wrong with using an etching primer, it's just not the best product out there to use on steel in my humble opinion.

[chuck hahn]

DRY to me would mean fully dry to the base metal. Dry as in to the touch doesnt mean it has dried fully and has had time to gas out.

[Nessism]

There were no signs of outgassing due to trapped solvents. I seriously doubt the results would be different if more time was allowed before baking.