Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: AJ Huff on August 11, 2021, 04:02:07 PM
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Has anyone tried ceramic as an alternative to chrome? My passenger back rest for my California is rusty crusty after hanging on the wall all these years. I see Cerakote makes a product called Glacier Chrome that looks good on the website. Unfortunately both of my two local coaters won't do it because it requires vibratory mill for polishing. I get that. But then I thought, that's basically similar to a Jethot polished header coating. And they would have a vibratory mill and shape wouldn't be a problem.
So the big questions is, does the ceramic chrome color look like chrome?
-AJ
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That sounds interesting. Inquiring minds wanna know! :thewife:
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Well I've emailed JetHot to see if they'd consider coating a back rest. I guess that's a first step. But was curious if anyone had something ceramic coated with the chrome look or what JetHot seems to call polished and if it looked like chrome plating.
-AJ
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Jet-Hot imitation chrome look does not really look like chrome. I have tried it a few times on exhaust pipes.
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Any idea on the Glacier Chrome Cerakote? Though I suspect that they are or nearly are the same thing as what JetHot uses.
-AJ
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My ceramic coated headers look more like polished aluminium than chrome, but maybe you can live with that?
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My Cerakote nicked and scratched easily by accident, while unwrapping it on the driveway
My JetHot cleaned up quite nicely after 5 years
I think brand new pieces sent to JetHot is the most durable, but not on the shiny show bike side
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In the UK we have a similar thing to Jet Hot, a Ceramic coating process, the "Chrome" version is called Cermachrome I think.
It, as others have already said, doesn't really look like Chrome.
When I had to applied to a set of pipes it was as Bazil said more like Aluminuim.
The finish I ended up with was silver with a blue hue and more of a matt/silk finish, I was disappointed with it I got the pipes recoated black.
I wouldn't recommend it, but YMMV
John
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Dumb Question - why not just get it rechromed?
G
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Dumb Question - why not just get it rechromed?
G
Just thought it might be a viable alternative as chrome platers become scarcer and more expensive.
-AJ
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Dumb Question - why not just get it rechromed?
G
I understand your logic and it makes a lot of sense.
As AJ Huff said, scarcity of platers, cost (at least here in the UK) it would be a lot more expensive and finally the "Chrome" finish allegedly doesn't blue (which I quite like) then blacken (which I don't).
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Well it's a moot point regarding JetHot. They replied they have tried the process before with grab rails and the finish comes out like wrinkled aluminum. She blamed zinc in the steel. That's a new one to me. But whatever. I still wonder about the Cerakote but would have to find a combination of a coater who does the coating AND has a large tumbling polisher. In the end I'll probably just take it off in the fall and send to a chrome plater recommended here.
Now she did recommended chrome colored powder coating and said those results were excellent. I haven't heard too much good about chrome colored powder coat. Anyone here try that?
-AJ
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Saint Louis Metal Plating does a good job on restoration of old chrome. And reasonable prices.
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Ceracote (Ceracoat?) is used on some firearms now; have not encountered any that look like chrome??
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It's funny, Cerakote comes in all colors now. About 20 years ago I only knew of it in a yellowish-orange that we'd use for iron castings to be heat treated. Protected them from scale formation and needing to be shot blasted. Pretty clever.
-AJ
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refreshig this old thread to stir the pot and see if anyone has gone the CeraKote route and can speak to the results?
I'm thinking about exhaust specifically.
My early research led me to believe that CeraKote and Jet Hot are very different, and that Jet Hot does NOT hold up in the same manner the Cerakote does. Comments in this thread suggest otherwise. Interested in testimonies.
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I have experience with both. I just had this exhaust Cerakoted.
(https://i.ibb.co/G54VQDN/20241115-212230.jpg) (https://ibb.co/G54VQDN)
(https://i.ibb.co/QMWJxN2/20241115-211955.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QMWJxN2)
My local certified Cerakote sprayer does not offer glossy colors, and colors he has are limited. I went with satin black. It looks good and the headers he did on my alfa years ago still look the same.
The headpipes on my Cal 3 were Jet Hot coated ( classic polish) many years ago, and it still looks decent. I also Jet hotted a yoshimura pipe years ago with (same finish).
(https://i.ibb.co/YQRkN6p/20230808-173532.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YQRkN6p)
(https://i.ibb.co/HhDQHZD/458769934-8298601756872019-3701079817421170460-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HhDQHZD)
if you zoom into where the muffler meets the pipe on the Suzuki,you can see the difference between a stainless muffer and the Jet hot (classic polish finish).
Jet hot is great for keeping down under hood temps, and to keep your legs from getting singed. The classic polish does not pass for chrome.
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I had it
(https://i.ibb.co/6ydDYVh/IMG-4831.png) (https://ibb.co/6ydDYVh)
(https://i.ibb.co/cXRJXvZ/IMG-4830.png) (https://ibb.co/cXRJXvZ)
on this S pipe once and it looked lousy.
I don’t have any shots.
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(https://i.ibb.co/FbKMvst/image.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FbKMvst)
exhaust ceramic coated 10 years ago 👍
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Jethot lasted longer with a better finish on a Vert for 80k miles and would clean up nicely with soap and water. Always amazed
My local refinishing company using a heat specific powder coating (3colors only) satin black lasted about 5 minutes on my mopeds... While assembling just a slight metal to metal contact and it left a permanent mark. Think slightly hitting it with a tool…donk! That’s it..also the finish faded quite quickly it seemed after a year or two.
The only issue I can point out, and it wasn’t Jethots problem, was the iron rain rusted front rotors of the vert spewing off and embedding themselves in hot headers. Over time, like 5 years, that was disappointing. Don’t know if the ceramic coated would do the same
If i was restoring a prized guzzi, Jethot or new parts.
If i had 12 mopeds (like i do) w lots of cruddy parts, your local ceramic/Keracote
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I really appreciate the experienced feedback! Fascinating variety in experiences that I've heard in my expansive research (3 days of googling and forum feedback)
We're blessed here in Indy with a plethora of vendors on this sort of stuff, given the heavy motorsports presence. I was looking for real world experience before I hear what a salesperson has to say. AND I've just purchased a new piece of kit already CeraKoted with their high heat products (they offer several).
Still can't quite bring myself to feel good about covering a nice set of polished headers, but it may look ok, and it sounds like there is improvement to be had. The bike in question is Perla, the GRiSO.
Does anyone know with certainty what Guzzi is using on new bikes for the blacked out Exhaust?
For example: PFA (Good luck to everyone with a Cadre Raffle Ticket!)
(https://i.imgur.com/yiH94AZ.png)