DIY Piston top coating, Ceracoat or the likes... Options

[rfinegan]

While I have the pistons out, I am thinking of applying a Ceracote / thermal coating to the tops of the pistons. Has any one tried this via a do it youself or are the DIY finishes not any good?

[technicalninja]

The trick to get the Cera-coat to adhere is surface prep.

Best to start with new pistons, far less cleaning is involved.

The correct grit glass beads, a tiny bead blaster, running the glass beads through a fine filter.
Use the correct high heat tape (look at powder coating suppliers for this stuff).
Use brand new glass beads, do not re-use any of the beads as the first time through the beads truly are round and after they've hit something they're not.
Be careful with brand new glass beads. Get too many on the floor and you'll swear that it's as slick as ice.
I've busted my ass with glass beads before...

Use a good respirator. You are trying to avoid silicosis which is caused by powdered glass.

I've sacrificed an old range for this purpose. I wouldn't cook food in an oven that was used for Cera-coat or powder coat.

Cleanliness is godliness.

Even with new pistons I do a serious cleaning process. Alcohol scrub down, let dry, cook for 20-30 min at 300.
Bead blast, alcohol, cook again.
At this point cleaning is done, let them cool. Re-tape if you masked for bead blasting.
Normal painting with airbrush. Let dry in sun. Cook per instructions.

I then do a very fine polish of the surface with the finest steel wool/scotch-brite I can find.

I'd coat everything the fire touches and the entire exhaust port and back side of the exhaust valve. I leave the intake ports and back sides of valves un-coated.

If you don't have this equipment and a throw-away oven choosing a coating company is a wise choice.

Swain-Tech was my go-to for years, but they appear to have issues now.

The suggestions by mepstein look spot on and I will check their prices before I DIY my next set. I could find nothing negative regarding HM Elliot.

Miss any of the above steps and you will have coating problems. Most DIYs don't go to those levels right out of the box and that is why you see folks complaining about the DIY products.