Cerakote on a airbox

jpatz319
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jpatz319
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2021 2:50pm
thinking about cerakoting my airbox black on KX450. Has anyone done this and if so how well did it hold up?
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BAD10
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BAD10 1/26/2021 1:09pm
1/26/2021 1:09pm
Cerakote is not meant for plastic.
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kb228
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kb228 1/26/2021 1:14pm
1/26/2021 1:14pm
X2, no cerakoting plastic
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motoracer58
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motoracer58 1/26/2021 1:16pm
1/26/2021 1:16pm
You can Cerakote plastic. I haven't tried it yet but there are some videos of parts being done. Also guns get coated all the time and most handgun bodies are some type of poly. The curing process would be the only part that might get tough, depending how heat resistant the airbox is, you might need to use an air cure cerakote and not oven cure...
straight from cerakote's website...

TRIM AND EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS
Cerakote is also an excellent choice for the exterior trim parts of a vehicle. Cerakote can be applied to a range of substrates including plastic and metal trim, interior and exterior hardware, and even over primed and pretreated parts. Cerakote can protect surfaces from UV, weathering, and whatever the road may throw at you.
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bigk218
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bigk218 1/26/2021 1:49pm
1/26/2021 1:49pm
The heat cured works great on metal parts. Don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work on plastic parts!
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jbonemalone
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jbonemalone 1/26/2021 2:15pm
1/26/2021 2:15pm
Cerakote absolutely does work on plastics.
The problem with an air box is it’s gonna flex and vibrate and will probably crack. Fenders and shrouds do hold up decently. I’ve done it a couple times.
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wisconsinracer24 1/26/2021 2:21pm
1/26/2021 2:21pm
NoGasNoFiga793 wrote:
Are you joking us? Cerakoting on plastics? You could try it on your ass tho😂
I'm just curious are you laughing at yourself??? And who is this "us" you speak of?



Seems plastics and polymers are suitable if it made it into there training manual.....
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duckdog77
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duckdog77 1/26/2021 2:29pm
1/26/2021 2:29pm
NoGasNoFiga793 wrote:
Are you joking us? Cerakoting on plastics? You could try it on your ass tho😂
wisconsinracer24 wrote:
I'm just curious are you laughing at yourself??? And who is this "us" you speak of? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/01/26/475211/s1200_Untitled.jpg[/img] Seems plastics and polymers are suitable if it made...
I'm just curious are you laughing at yourself??? And who is this "us" you speak of?



Seems plastics and polymers are suitable if it made it into there training manual.....
This answered my question...cure time and temp. I knew the metal times and temps but not plastic. Then only other question I would have is if you need a plastic adhesion promoter before cerakoting? Or if it will self adhere to plastics?
Zaugg
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Zaugg 1/26/2021 2:44pm
1/26/2021 2:44pm
Out of curiosity, why is Cerakote your go-to color change material? Why not a different material (Rit Dye or Plastic specific paint?)

jpatz319
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jpatz319 1/26/2021 5:14pm
1/26/2021 5:14pm
I was thinking it would be pretty durable and I was worried about the how dark the black would be if I dyed it.
Jon_Haynes
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Jon_Haynes 1/26/2021 5:23pm
1/26/2021 5:23pm
You can get a C series Cerakote that is air cure. no heat involved and it is damn near as durable.
garagedog
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garagedog 1/26/2021 5:31pm
1/26/2021 5:31pm
Cameron Niemela tried it 2.5 years ago...


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Motoxdoc
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Motoxdoc 1/26/2021 5:34pm
1/26/2021 5:34pm
Everyone seems so concerned if that would even work that they are ignoring the elephant in the thread.
Why would you do that?! Is something wrong with the stock KX450 airbox? You don't like the stock color? You have extra time and money you don't mind losing?

edit: I just read your last post above as I was writing this....so you are worried about it's durability and you don't like the color? I'm sure the durability is just fine...so, If the time and money are worth changing the color, I say go for it.
Personally, I'd just live with the color and get another set of tires or chain and sprockets for it.
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timobijnen84 1/27/2021 4:21am
1/27/2021 4:21am
I also use the C series air cured cerakote but havent done any plastic parts yet.

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jbonemalone
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jbonemalone 1/27/2021 5:30am
1/27/2021 5:30am
You all are aware that there are “air dry “ cerakote options right?
You don’t have to bake all of them.
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motoracer58
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motoracer58 1/27/2021 6:07am
1/27/2021 6:07am
jbonemalone wrote:
You all are aware that there are “air dry “ cerakote options right?
You don’t have to bake all of them.
if you read through the previous responses, yes, air cured has been mentioned a few time
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Wandell
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Wandell 1/27/2021 6:45am
1/27/2021 6:45am
Zaugg wrote:
Out of curiosity, why is Cerakote your go-to color change material? Why not a different material (Rit Dye or Plastic specific paint?)

I think the answer to your question is because it has proven to be the best option. It's kind of new to mx, but it has been used in the firearms industry for years and has proven to be great. Especially in tactical firearms applications where firearms are subjected to abuse and harsh conditions.
captmoto
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captmoto 1/27/2021 11:44am
1/27/2021 11:44am Edited Date/Time 1/27/2021 11:45am
I think I would look into automotive bumper paint which will give a little flex. You should be able to get any color you want.
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Jeremy Macbeth 1/27/2021 11:54am
1/27/2021 11:54am Edited Date/Time 1/27/2021 11:55am
The "cera" in Cerakote stands for ceramic. Cerakote is not flexible. While some applications of Cerakote to plastic make sense, applying Cerakote to an airbox is surely to result in very unsatisfactory results.
mwilcox349
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mwilcox349 1/27/2021 2:19pm
1/27/2021 2:19pm
kb228 wrote:
X2, no cerakoting plastic
I had my ignition covers on my YZ125 and YZ250 cerakoted. Those are plastic. They've held up fine.
Jeremy Macbeth 1/27/2021 2:29pm
1/27/2021 2:29pm
mwilcox349 wrote:
I had my ignition covers on my YZ125 and YZ250 cerakoted. Those are plastic. They've held up fine.
Ignition covers don't flex. This is an example of where applying cerakote to plastic is a reasonable idea.

Cerakote is a ceramic coating. If it flexes, it will crack.
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TooOld4WFO
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TooOld4WFO 1/27/2021 2:50pm
1/27/2021 2:50pm
Jeremy is correct on issues with flexibility.
Fortunately this product covers very quickly. Great for firearms since it covers with very little product used.
I just shot with black engine cases, all bolts for engine, cylinder, head, right side outer case and left side plastic outside cover. I used less than 4 oz of material.
I have used the H series on plastic many times. I oven cure in a heat box I made at 150-180.
I used a adhesion promoter on my plastic purchased from automotive paint supply.
I recently sprayed my CR 250 92 air box white.
On the thin plastic areas the paint did indeed flake .
Surprisingly it is still intact on the side which faces the rear tire. But I sanded this area very well since it shows.

So far I would do it again. And I will with an 86 air box going black.

I cannot speak for the air dry product.
If it adheres as well as the oven cure I would be surprised. The air dry you do not use a hardener as an additive.
It comes ready to spray.

I have sprayed their air dry clear and was not impressed with the adhesion.

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