Topic: Removing powder coating from exhaust manifolds?

[CharlesTurner]

I bought a pair of 65 hi-po exhaust manifolds a few months back.  They have what looks like powder coating.  Did a spot test in the blast cabinet, wouldn't hardly leave a mark on it.  Anyone have any ideas of how to get this stuff off?  I've read about chemical remover, but one strong enough to remove the coating is 'dangerous' to use in a home shop setting.

[preaction]

Glass beads will take it off eventually it could take hours, I tried using a wire wheel to break up the larger portions but still time consuming the coarsest media available is what is needed.

[Bob Gaines]

I bought a pair of 65 hi-po exhaust manifolds a few months back.  They have what looks like powder coating.  Did a spot test in the blast cabinet, wouldn't hardly leave a mark on it.  Anyone have any ideas of how to get this stuff off?  I've read about chemical remover, but one strong enough to remove the coating is 'dangerous' to use in a home shop setting.

If they were powder coated you could burn it off which wouldn't make sense on a exhaust manifold. Sounds like expensive jet hot like product. Could be porcelain coating but if so it is time to move on.  Aggressive media commercial sand blasting has gotten that off the jet hot type coating before but will compromise the bare appearance most likely. Sorry I am not familiar with a proper chemical stripper if it is what I think it is.

[JohnRB]

Found this



Have not tried it.

Let us know.

[J_Speegle]

Know some that have had to default to burning the coating off with a torch then following with media blasting for the thin lighter remains of the nasty stuff

[Bob Gaines]

Found this



Have not tried it.

Let us know.

Interesting product. My first thought was that taking the powder coat off a chrome valve cover and it's naturally slick surface was very more forgiving compared to another part that had been bead blasted and had a rougher surface for the paint to stick to. I wonder if it would work the same?

[Countrysquire]

I have had luck removing powder coating in the past using Permatex gasket remover, but the local parts stores no longer carry it, so it might be outlawed like the paint strippers with methylene chloride.  The stuff they sell now is low VOC, so I assume that to mean that it doesn't have whatever aggressive chemical that it previously had.

[CharlesTurner]

Follow up... found a Benco product that broke down the coating enough that I was able to blast it off the rest of the way.  Soaked the manifolds for a few days, didn't look like it was doing anything, but did turn it from gloss finish to dull/etched appearance.  Saw there were a couple areas that looked chipped away and scraped with a putty knife.  Once I saw a few piece come off, that's when I decided to try the blast cabinet and to my surprise, the coating came off without too much trouble.

[jwc66k]

Charles,
A little more detail if you would - product number, type of container you used, general temperature, any other tips.
Do you think this would work on other powder coated items?
Jim

[Bossbill]

Perhaps this:
https://www.mitpowdercoatings.com/blog/tag/Benco+B17

[jwc66k]

Interesting set of instructions. Not for the amateur. 
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

A little more detail if you would - product number, type of container you used, general temperature, any other tips.
Do you think this would work on other powder coated items?

Benco B17 product.  Initially tried applying it with a toothbrush, nothing happened, so that's when I filled up a 5 gallon bucket with it and soaked the manifolds.  Was surprised that it actually worked.  I've used it to strip paint off other parts too, just dip them for about 5-10 mins and the paint falls off.  Big time saver for parts that have to be blasted.  Had a set of hood hinges with lots of exterior paint over-spray, probably would have taken a couple hours to clean them in the cabinet.  Soaked in B17, rinsed/dried and spent 10 mins cleaning in blast cabinet after.

The stuff is a bit pricey, think I paid over $200 for a 5 gallon container.

It's some nasty stuff, need eye/skin protection.  I had a small tear in one of my gloves and this stuff got in, had to run to the faucet to rinse off!  I only use it outside in the driveway.  When I first used it and tried to apply with a tooth brush, it dissolved the tooth brush.

Temp-wise, I don't think it matters, but I'm sure that info is in the tech data.