Used this method and it came out nice: http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/ Joe
I have done a few. I lightly glass bead, epoxy prime, and paint with single stage polyurethane paint. The ones I have done held up very well on the street, and on a dragster that used race gas. Masking and trimming the paint as needed at sealing surfaces is important. Do that improperly or have a little bad luck and the trimmed edges could lift. Mask and plug the carb pieces VERY well prior to blasting, and remove every bit of any media that still finds its way in.
I think most of the the engine enamels in a spray can are fuel resistant. Vht's i believe. Im gonna do my rochesters like that i believe. And i think black bases and a copperish color on everything else is a decent look Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
I wouldn't use anything that isn't 2k on a carb, you need a catalyzed paint to withstand chemicals like gasoline
Blast and dip in Alodine.....Green/Gold tint......Aircraft Spruce has it....Do a search on here......
I am going to have to dye the 3 Rochesters on my 394 Olds and I am glad this thread came up. I wondered how those Eastwood and other gold dying kits work, and the ones you pictured look just like I want mine to look. Don
thanks man i didnt know that. i have the rochesters on the shelf waiting to be setup for my apache. i should do a little more research before i speak
As purchased off Ebay. As installed after bead blasting a 20 second dip in a 10% solution of alodine and water. The finished product. Do a search and you will find lots of references to alodine. I learned about it here on the HANB and love the results. Carbs look like shit to me painted in any color. Carbs are supposed to look like carbs. IMHO
No problem! Only thing I would suggest different from the article is to get a large 5lb box of baking soda...itll last longer and you dont have to keep shaking it around to keep it flowing. With 100psi the soda just about blasts through anything. Joe
BTW we use alodine on aircraft aluminum parts for corrosion resistance. Look out! That stuff is a deadly toxin! Check out the MSDS... Joe
This leads to another obvious question: what colors were these carbs when they were new? Hexavalent chromate appears to have been a frequently used agent which left a golden-green color. Were there other materials in the 30s-50s?
Jon, thanks for sharing that link as well. Not all carbs are supposed to look shiney & bronze. The older Carter carbs were downright ugly & utilitarian. POR-15 on a clean Carter W-1 body looks pretty slick and prevents it from rusting.
To get back to the question posed by the original poster: We have on occasion painted carbs for show cars. We did the original finish to protect the carbs internally, then very carefully masked off ALL orifices, threads, etc., and painted with a black epoxy paint. Castings were then baked in an electric oven at 125 degrees for an hour to "set" the epoxy. We then had the external linkages, screws, fittings, etc. chrome plated, so the final effect was a splash of chrome against the glossy black background. There is a sample on this link: http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/ Jon.