VHT Spray Paints from Speco Thomas Frequently Asked Questions

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VHT
— so good it’s used on the shuttle

See also the Product Usage Guide

VHT Spray Paints
often copied — never equalled

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about VHT

What are the application instructions for VHT Brake Drum, Caliper and Rotor Paint?

Surface Preparation: For maximum adhesion start with a clean, dry, grease free surface. Spray VHT SP-11 Brake Cleaner and Degreaser liberally over the area to be painted. Scuff any rusted or glossy surface with a Steel Wool or a 3M Scotch Brite pad^TM. Wipe stubborn areas with a dry clean cloth, spray again with cleaner, and let dry.

Mask Area and Wipe Surface Clean: To protect from over spray, mask and cover the wheel well, surrounding floor and any surfaces that will not be painted. Be sure to tape off lugs. Wipe down the area to be painted with a clean soft cloth or tack rag.

Paint the Surface: Shake can for a full one minute after the agitator ball begins to rattle. Repeat for 10 seconds after each 5 minutes of use. Spray a wet, thin, even coat approximately 8 to 10 inches away from surface. Repeat within 10 to 15 minutes until the desired color is achieved. For maximum gloss and protection, spray a final coat holding the can 5 to 6 inches away from the surface being careful to avoid running. Experiment with the distance of the can to achieve the finish you desire. Over spray can be removed with Mineral Spirits immediately after spraying and while surface is still wet.

Curing: VHT Brake Drum, Caliper and Rotor Paint will dry to the touch in 15 to 25 minutes depending on humidity. It will air dry overnight. For increased chemical and heat resistance, apply heat within 7 days. After paint is dry to the touch, place in an oven at 120°C for 30 minutes. Curing may also be accomplished with the inherent heat of operation.

Additional Tips: Apply the coating only when the aerosol can, surface to be painted, and the air temperatures are between 19°C and 35°C. Do not use in high humidity unless it will be oven cured. Test spray a small area before starting the project. Apply multiple coats in less than 1 hour or after 24 hours. Coats sprayed between this period may wrinkle, not adhere or not dry properly. Spraying front and rear brake systems will require 2 to 3 cans of VHT Brake Drum, Caliper and Rotor Paint.

Why do I need VHT Brake, Caliper and Rotor paint, won’t any Engine Enamel work?

Brakes reach temperatures of 345°C. plus. Even VHT Engine Enamel is only rated to 249°C.
VHT Brake and Caliper Paint will take temperature of 485°C. and is chemical resistant when dry.

How do I apply VHT Engine Enamel?

Surface Preparation: Clean surface thoroughly, removing all grease, oil, loose paint and rust. Sand previously painted surfaces lightly being sure to feather all rough edges. Wipe part to be painted with a tack cloth being careful to remove all dust and paint particles. No primer is required.

Paint the Surface: Do not use in temperatures of less than 21°C on parts that are less than room temperature. Apply VHT engine coatings directly to the surface to be painted. Apply a smooth even coat and lightly sand for a primer coat or spot prime. Hold can 12 to 15 inches away from surface and spray in one direction using long even strokes. Repeat the process in the opposite direction. Wait approximately 30 minutes before recoating. Excessive coating build-up is not necessary or recommended and will cause blistering and loss of adhesion. Apply only enough coating to color surface evenly. If touch-up or recoating is necessary after 4 hours, a light sanding may be needed.

Curing: VHT Engine Coatings will air dry in one hour and cure overnight. Baking for 15 minutes at 150°C and then 30 minutes at 180°C improves finish and provides a more durable surface for handling, resistance to salt-spray, chemicals and humidity. Curing may be accomplished by the inherent heat of operation, as encountered in engines, exhaust systems or by baking in an oven, infra-red, blow torch, etc. Starting the engine and running at idle for 15 minutes and letting cool can also cure VHT Engine Coatings. Restart the engine and run for no more than one hour and again let cool. If the engine is operating normally, this will bake on the finish. All curing must be done slowly.

Application instructions for VHT FlameProof Coating

Surface Preparations:

Ferrous Metals

Powder-blast with 120 grit or finer grain size.
Rinse thoroughly with lacquer thinner, acetone, or vapor degrease.
Do not allow raw metal to oxidise prior to coating application.

Stainless Steels and Titanium

Powder-blast with 120 grit or finer grain size.
Rinse thoroughly with lacquer thinner, acetone, or vapor degrease.

Copper

This metal must be nickel flash-plated prior to coating with VHT FlameProof.

Galvanised Metal

Clean surfaces thoroughly with lacquer thinner, acetone, or vapor degrease.
Apply VHT FlameProof coating directly to galvanised surface.

Aluminum

Remove oxidation with 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or metal etch, no other special surface preparation is required, except removal of oil films, etc.
Anodised, irridited and alodyned surfaces can be directly coated with VHT FlameProof for lower temperature use only.

Thinning: For bulk FlameProof, thin as necessary with a quality grade Toluene or Lacquer Thinner available from most local paint suppliers. Do not thin more than 25% by volume.

Application: Apply a thin, even coat — just enough to thoroughly colour. Excessive build-up is not necessary or recommended. In applications requiring heavy coating, build-up should be done in stages, each successive coat being cured as recommended below. Nominal coating wet thickness .0015” – .002”. VHT FlameProof coatings require no primer. For most economical use of VHT FlameProof colors on ”hard to hide” surfaces, apply a thin coat of VHT FlameProof White or VHT FlameProof Silver base coating.

Curing: VHT FlameProof coatings will air dry in 15 to 30 minutes and, if handled with reasonable care, may be put to immediate use. Heat curing method for maximum resistance to solvents, salt spray, humidity, thermal shock and heat:

15 minutes at 120°C.
30 minutes at 315°C.
1 hour at 430°C.
30 minutes at 540°C.

On non-traffic surfaces or where solvent resistance is not required, VHT FlameProof coatings may be used as air-dried. Curing may be accomplished by the inherent heat of operation as encountered in engine manifolds and exhausts, boilers, heaters, or by following the curing instructions above. All curing should be done slowly.

Cleaning: VHT FlameProof coated surfaces are kept clean with soap and water. Obstinate stains may be removed with mild cleansers. Do not use solvents for cleaning, unless coating has been cured as recommended above.

Will FlameProof paint really stay on my headers?

Yes, remove all paint and clean the headers thoroughly with a high-grade solvent. Apply FlameProof Coating as recommended in the above Application and Curing Instructions. Headers require solvent resistance, therefore, curing should be done within 7 days of application. We see headers all of the time that were painted with VHT FlameProof coating 5 to 10 years ago.

What can I use to stop Chrome Headers from Blueing or Ceramic Headers from turning brown?

Use a can of SP-101 White FlameProof Paint sprayed inside the small end of the exhaust system prior to installing the headers. Spray one can down each header. Do not worry about how it looks; just try to get it to run down the tubes evenly. If it drips out the other side, that is good. Clean off any over spray immediately with a strong solvent. This will virtually stop ceramic headers from browning and the bluing on chrome will be reduced to a ½ inch or less.

Is VHT TrackBite a tyre softener?

No, VHT TrackBite is an adhesive type traction compound that does not soften tires. Apply to tires and to the track or street for maximum traction. Normally VHT TrackBite is poured in front of the drive tires at the starting line. It will not harm concrete or asphalt surfaces and is NHRA and IHRA approved. Pour in front of the starting line and do a light burnout, back up putting the drive tyres into the TrackBite. It is biodegradable when dry and will not wash off with water. All NHRA and IHRA races are run on VHT TrackBite. Many pro racers coat their tyres prior to entering the starting line for increased traction and performance.

My SP-201 Wrinkle Finish did not wrinkle or did not wrinkle very much, why?

Clean surface completely of all grease, oil, dirt and loose paint. Hold can 8 to 10 inches from the surface, spraying in a horizontal back and forth motion. Apply the first base coat heavily avoiding runs. Wait 3 to 5 minutes before applying a second coat moving vertically in an up and down motion. If a third coat is desired, wait 3 to 5 minutes and move the can diagonally for uniform coverage. Only coat enough surface as it can be re-coated in 3 minutes.

Note: First coat must be applied heavy and second coat lighter for the best effect.

The wrinkle pattern normally appears within one hour after application and cures completely overnight. The key to an even, consistent wrinkle is a warm surface, not hot, not cold, prior to painting and warm ambient air temperature after coating. The wrinkle effect may be accelerated by use of heat as in: ovens, lamps or a hair dryer used in an oscillating motion. In extremely humid and/or colder weather, the texture may not develop for 12 hours and curing may not occur for 72 hours. Do not use when substrate is colder than 20°C or hotter than 32°C.

What is the difference between VHT SP-995 Nu-Cast Aluminum and VHT SP-997 Nu-Cast Iron Engine?

SP-995 Nu-Cast Aluminum duplicates newly cast aluminum as in: new alternators or intake manifolds. SP-998 duplicates the cast gray look of a newly cast Iron Engine. Both are ideal for restoration or making old parts look new. Both products are rated to 290°C and very chemical resistant after heated one time.

What do I use for Chassis?

VHT Epoxy All Weather Paint is ideal for all under body applications including suspension. It is the same hard and durable finish that is applied to appliances. It restores the surface to a long lasting, hard and durable finish. It is used more and more on Show Car and restoration projects. The SP-652 Satin Black is the most popular color for this project.

My Nite Shades is not adhering or looks milky white, Why?

Lens are made in a mould that is coated with mould release. The mould release needs to be removed prior to painting with lacquer thinner.

How do I remove VHT Nite Shades SP-999 Lens Tint?

Usually a little lacquer thinner on a clean lint free cloth will take it off. If the tint is more than 3 months old, it may be baked into the surface and normally will not come off.