Vht231d minimum spraying temperature to cure

[Honda enthusiast]

Hi folks

The temperature in the workshop is ten degrees and I can probably get it up to 15 with a heater, would that be ok for the vht 231d to air dry if applied in thin coats? I do have two 1 KW bodyshop infrared lamps , was thinking of using them to cure it as opposed to doing it in the oven....any ideas?

[Nurse Julie]

15° to air cure is fine. Never cured under lamps as we always cure in an oven, so can't comment on that. But, the heat needs to be all around the part to oven cure it evenly.

[Martin6]

When I first got my 750, the main case paint had been damaged by carb leaks and the previous owner had repainted with VHT, which would wipe off with any petrol on a rag.

When I worked on the engine, I wanted to repaint it. Although it was out of the frame, I only had the head and cylinder block off, so I couldn't put it in an oven!

I took it back to bare metal with brass brushes in a Dremel. Lightly scuffed it with 800 grit paper, to giive a better key. Then did a light coat of etch primer and left it a day to dry, light coat of VHT silver, left it to dry, then warmed up the case with an electric paint stripper on low, let it cool. This step took about an hour going over the case in sections. No idea if it achieved anything other than making me feel good! Then finally, I sprayed a light coat of engine clear lacquer. Let it harden for a couple of weeks, before it went back into the frame.

All was from aerosols. All in November/December, with a fan heater in the garage. Each time i made sure the engine case was at room temp (not hot), by gently heating with my paint stripper and the paint was kept in the house between uses.

It was a labour of love, for sure. Not quick. But, 1,000 miles in, so far it is standing up very well to riding and cleaning, much better than just the VHT. The odd stone chip off the front tyre. A lot of cleaning, due to winter muck. Still looks fresh. However, I did have an episode where petrol leaked from the carbs. A small area was damaged. Only the lacquer was affected and I cleaned it off, masked everywhere off and misted the affected area. Good as new.

[Honda enthusiast]

Thanks Julie and Martin, I'm glad you say it's doable 😁 it would be a shame to have to wait till July/ August....I've just bought a 3kw fan heater from Amazon and along with my 2kw space heater should have a good enough temperature.
Thanks both 😎👍

[SumpMagnet]

I would also make sure the paint cans are not cold. I was advised once to stick the cans in warm water to heat them, but I didn;t fancy putting a pressurised can into anything hot...so I just bring them in the house the day before I want to use them to warm them up. As well as the curing process, aerosols don't like cold or damp conditions, and the paint may not atomise properly leading to spattery paint.

[Green1]

I regularly place rattle cans in hot water when it's cold and have never had an issue. In the summer I have had them get to hot to touch when left in the van and they haven't popped. The same can't be said for tubes of gripfill I had three tubes decide to glue themselves and the shelves contents firmly in place

[Honda enthusiast]

I don't want the cylinder liners to move while in the oven...on the K7 the head is bolted to the cylinders with M6 bolts and I was going to do that and place it right way up in the oven...so the tops of the liners are against the cylinder head...

Would that work folks or is there a better way?

Hubert

[Athame57]

I don't want the cylinder liners to move while in the oven...on the K7 the head is bolted to the cylinders with M6 bolts and I was going to do that and place it right way up in the oven...so the tops of the liners are against the cylinder head...

Would that work folks or is there a better way?

Hubert

Surely this is the very hottest part of the engine and as such a few hours of riding might do the job okay?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I agree it will soon bake with the engine running.

I have read that similar paints will effectively become curred by air drying alone provided it is a decent room temperature of 20-22 deg C except it takes some 3-4 months as the solvent eventually completely evaporates.

Oven baking just accelerates the drying time to reach full cure down to a hour or two.

When my BiL painted his Fireblade engine he just left it to cure for several months in the summer - it was differnt brand of paint from the USA.  The information does not support my BiL claims although I believe he sought further information from the supplier.https://www.frost.co.uk/vht-cast-iron-engine-enamel/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmdGYBhDRARIsABmSEePCbaToXB0usEPUkOpLCJlcM6IJMXOzWiGj0maZBRi7auTU2W44CSAaAoV7EALw_wcB

[Honda enthusiast]

Thanks both, I'll bake it anyway while my wife's out 😜

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

After you have baked the block make sure you cook a few sausages in the oven afterwards to mask the aroma.

[ozzybud]

I always prefer to use a catalyzed paint as they cure via chemical  reaction not evaporation. They also will not dissolve with solvents or gasoline. Poof can paint will dissolve and oxidize no matter how long they have cured.
 As they never truly "cure"

[Athame57]

Is Simoniz Engine Enamel considered the best paint to get?

[Honda enthusiast]

After you have baked the block make sure you cook a few sausages in the oven afterwards to mask the aroma.

My dear wife is out from ten thirty to six, enough time to bake with the kitchen windows open and leave no traces of smell. Golden opportunity strike while the oven is hot 😂 She's lovely in every way and has a good sense of smell so i might be rueing doing it this evening, Ted ...hope not but the evil deed will have been successfully done ✅

[Laverda Dave]

After you have baked the block make sure you cook a few sausages in the oven afterwards to mask the aroma.

My dear wife is out from ten thirty to six, enough time to bake with the kitchen windows open and leave no traces of smell. Golden opportunity strike while the oven is hot 😂 She's lovely in every way and has a good sense of smell so i might be rueing doing it this evening, Ted ...hope not but the evil deed will have been successfully done ✅

Flowers and chocolates on the table for when she gets home, they mask all bad smells and quell anger. Happy wife, happy life  (and good luck in the Bake-off)