blacking out pipes. best way?

[dreygun]

curious how ppl choose to black out their pipes. i've seen posts saying ceramic paint, then i've seen pics which look almost like hockey tape wrapped. how did you black yours out, or how would you?

[Danthedawgfan]

Drey, I just bought some hight temp paint that is made for painting exhaust headers. I bought VHT Flame Proof Paint at Advance Auto Parts for $8.00. I am planning on doing the painting this weekend. I'll post pics of the outcome.

[Trigger1985]

The black hockey tape is exhaust wrap, you can get it in black or dirty white, its not cheap though, and you can pick it up at most auto stores in area where they sell pipe parts. Pros, effective in blocking heat, looks like a mean drag bike, very bobber. Cons, traps heat in the pipes, which adds to wear, though claim they claim to lower density allowing for better breathing, but they also claim a resistor will add 5+ HP to your bike Also has to be installed with either Steel zip ties or hose clamps.

Paint
This is the method I chose, as it fits the look I'm going for better.
Pros- Looks cleaner, can be shiney, or flat or other colours.
Cons- PITA to do, I bought a second set of pipes so I didn't have to put my bike out of commission while I removed the exhaust to paint, 20 bucks was well worth the lack of hassle. If you can't paint evenly with a rattle can, you may not want to go this route, large amounts of surface area to see sags, uneven coats, etc.

Ceramic Coating
This stuff is the real deal, lowers lowers temp, comes in different colors, but is a much bigger PITA than paint, requires the surface to be blasted before install, needs an airbrush to apply, but is more durable than paint, but if done right, looks awsome

So basically the best way to black out is the way that fits the look you are going for, its all personally preference. This is what I've gathered from looking around, the last couple weeks, if I got something wrong, please correct me.

[womper]

there is ONE other method i know of...

black chrome.

dunno if anyone has ever done pipes though...
since the black chrome is mainly used to trap heat, might not be useful as an exhaust setup, but man is it ever nice looking

actually found some pics of people with black chrome pipes...

[Trigger1985]

My black paint looks like that... I'll take pictures next week after I install.

[dreygun]

Such helpful info. Might just get vht matte blk but leave the tips chrome. Tks!

[geoffsimpson]

Off topic...i really love an old Norton.....Carry on

[dreygun]

well i picked up some wrap tape from harley shop today. taking back though. i took one piece of the heat shield, to see what the pipe would look like. wow, it's so thin. would look to pinner to just have that alongside the bike side. so i think i'm going to vht primer then paint the matte black. will match the matte on the bike parts too better. btw the tape was $70 here in canada :O didn't know that stuff was sooo damn expensive.

[Trigger1985]

I got the same surprise when I picked up my spare set... i felt cheated, though it kinda explains the lack of back pressure drop from debaffling, etc. Not going to lose much after those straws.

[dreygun]

Originally Posted by Trigger1985

Not going to lose much after those straws.

Bahaha straws .

Painting today after work. Probably leave the cannons, taper and small shields chrome at first, take pics then change if it looks dumb

[1badbaker]

the black chrome looks nice. I'm saving for some HK pipes that are powdercoated black (probably the strippers).

drey-hope the painting goes well....looking forward to seeing some pics.

[dreygun]

thoughts on heat wrapping over whole pipe including the little oval shields too? just worried that they are going to look fugly with the shields. scared to cut those off if i don't like the wrapping.