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Posted: 4/23/2016 6:45:43 PM EDT
| Okay, I've read all about coating a titanium tube, but what's the best prep? Chemical? Sand/bead blasting? Anyone used and had luck with a self etching primer? |
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It's going to depend on what you are coating it with. I would go with whatever the manufacturer of the coating recommends.
Last time I used the air dry cerakote. Prep was sanding it. While the cerakote looks fine, it's not all that durable. This time around I am going to blast it with aluminum oxide. I'm going to follow the directions this time 
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| With the air dry ceracote I did an acetone soak for 30 mins (handled with river gloves only after this) then blast, then another 30 min acetone soak, then 10 mins at 200 in the toaster oven. If there are no grease spots then spray. If there are, soak in acetone again. My results were good and it seems to be plenty durable. In their instructions they say the key to good results is blasting and no oils on the base material. |
| You can't use the self etching primer because of the heat requirements. The most difficult part of the coating the Ti tubes is surface prep (roughing the surface up). Its better to blast it, if you sandpaper it you need to do down courser (220 grit automotive sandpaper) but you really have to work it hard to get anywhere with it. You would clean with acetone (or reducer) first, but after the scuffing you would likely soak overnight (8+ hours). |
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