Well after searching enough and only finding one thread on painting a manifold, i decided to make a topic on the issues i'm having with painting my exhaust system.

I recently purchased an Apexi WS2 secondhand for my '93 Civic hatch. The exhaust came in incredible shape, but the previous owner painted it flat black. Here lies the problem. I think he might have used to wrong paint?



When i saw the photos from the sale, i saw the splotchy paint and how some areas were covered and others were bare. I assume he used the wrong paint and it flaked off because of the heat from the exhaust.

Now my problem is that i'm sanding this and certain parts are coming off, but other areas seem to be one with the exhaust now, and even when i move my hand over it the surface is uniform, so i'm not quite sure how to get the paint off.. My question is "Is is sanded enough?" where i can simple paint over it and not worry about the original base layer chipping off resulting in my top coat flaking off?

I'm hoping to have this sanded, repainted with three or four coats of high temp flat black paint, and installed by Monday evening, so any help would be great!

Thanks!

 

I'd just strip all of the old paint off of it

 

Any suggestions on a quick method to accomplish that? I don't really have a power sander or anything. Do you recommend a certain grit of paper or another way of taking the paint off?

There is really not much on the internet, surprisingly.

 

try using steel wool. if it's really cheap paint, acetone, paint striper , or even brake cleaner will take it off.

try using a combo of acetone and steel wool.

 

 

Aircraft stripper.

 

Steel wool was too light, and will acetone or brake cleaner harm the stainless steel at all?

And thank you everyone for the tips so far!

 

you all ready put sand paper and steel wool to it. you're going to get some small scratch marks.

the air craft stripper works wonders too (forgot that)

 

Well i'm going to repaint it with a couple light coats of high temp flat black paint when it's all cleaned and sanded. I suppose i meant more "severe" damage. But i guess it's harmless.

I'll give the brake cleaner a shot first, and if that isn't working i'll give the Aircraft paint stripper a try. Thanks!!

 

If you had a stripper on a 747, wouldn't they be an aircraft stripper?

 

Aircraft stripper will do it for sure. Used it many times to remove paint/rhino lining. I dunno if you have access to an angle grinder but one of those with a wire wheel tip WILL take that **** right off. Probably faster than the aircraft stripper.

 

x2

 

x3