QUICK TECH - Well, I'll be dipped!

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WELL, I’LL BE DIPPED >>We hit some parts with Cerakote ceramic coating and Big Brain Hydrographics for a durable and highly unique fin sh

W

e are always on the lookout for cool new technology that can make our rides (and yours) perform and look better. We stumbled across the process of hydrodipping about three years ago, and we’ve been looking for a reason and a few parts so we could test it out. After a bit of research, we found Big Brain Hydrographics and Guns Up Hydrographics and decided to give it a shot.

The hydrographics, “water transfer printing,” or “hydrodipping, process is a relatively recent development in the custom and high performance automotive industry, but it has been utilized in major manufacturing since the 1980s.

More recently, a number of suppliers and professional applicators have emerged, making the technique more accessible than ever.

In addition to auto parts, many shops also dip and customize firearms and components as well as insulated tumbler cups.

Many of the patterns available reflect those markets, with a plethora of faux carbon fiber, camoflouge, and other patterns.

However, we were looking for a subtle, high tech treatment that would reflect a honeycomb hex pattern to be used throughout our build. That search brought us to Big Brain Hydrographics.

Based in Bossier City, Louisiana, Big Brain has been in the water transfer business for

by

Toby Brooks

1 1: Spoiler alert! So we 2: While hydrodipping provides a cool look, hate to show you the we wanted a finish that was durable, too. finished esult first, Even though powder coating will be used but this cool hexagon on a number of parts, it is almost impossible pattern is fresh out of the to beat the heat resistance and toughness dip tank. After it dried, it of ceramic coating. Another bonus is that was sealed with a coat of unlike powder, ceramic lays down in an ultra matte clear Cerakote to thin coat, making it perfect for pieces like secure the print. our Supercharger Store gear drive.

cvrproducts.com For more information visit

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www.cvrproducts.com

4 3: Henson preps every part for coating using shot peen media blasting in his blast cabinet.

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4: Once the part was blasted, it was blown clean and wiped down with Acetone before being masked off on the backside. Henson then filled his airbrush with Cerakote Tungsten air dry. The coating comes pre-mixed and sprays just like ordinary paint.

several years, both supplying films and finishing parts and pieces themselves. The husband and wife team of Sean and Dinetta DeVille are as knowledgable about their products as anyone you will ever meet, and incredibly helpful in all things hydrodip. The fact that they are both as funny as they are friendly

is a helpful bonus, too.

Big Brain offers a full line of hydrodip films, supplies, and even training. We selected a few other films in addition to their small honeycomb pattern and searched for a local applicator to show us the ropes.

That search led us to Lubbock, Texas-based Bryan Henson of Guns Up

Hydrographics.

After contacting Henson and explaining what we had cooking, he was happy to help us with both ceramic coating and hydrodipping.

The first step was to prep our Supercharger Store gear drive plate. Although ceramic coating is incredibly durable, just like any finish, the most important step

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6 5: The hydrographic film comes in 1 or 5 meter rolls. Henson unrolled a small piece and taped around the edges with painter’s tape, which helps prevent the edges from curling up when placed in the water.

6 & 7: The prepped film was placed on the surface of the water, then Henson sprayed it with a liquid activator. After just a few seconds, it was ready for the part to be dipped.

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is preparation. Henson utilizes shot peen media blasting on most parts and hand finishes any others that require further prep.

Once the part was removed from media blasting, it was throughly blown off using compressed air and wiped down with acetone to remove any other potential contanimants. After thorough prep, our part was masked and ready for coating.

Much like hydrodipping, high-tech ceramic coatings have been available for some time

june 2016 | RPM Magazine

7 but their popularity has literally exploded over the past five years.

The ultra-thin coating (1-2 mil) provides protection against scuffs and wear in addition to thermal protection, as well. We contacted industry leader Cerakote and ordered several colors in addition to matte clear.

Unlike most paint, ceramic coating comes pre-mixed and ready to spray. Henson loaded his airbrush with our selected tungsten matte gray color and sprayed the part. Although Guns Up has

a wide array of larger spray guns available, Henson uses an airbrush as his go-to tool of choice when spraying ceramic coating to minimize material losses.

Henson placed the gear drive plate in his spray booth and applied a thin coat. The matte gray color applied smoothly and evenly, and within 10 minutes the part had dried sufficently for dipping.

Henson cut a 24-inch piece of Big Brain’s small honeycomb pattern and taped the edges of the

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SOURCES Big Brain Hydrographics

8 8: With the film activated and the part ready to go, Henson slowly and carefully dipped through the surface down into the tank, applying the pattern in the process.

9: After dipping the part through the film, Henson gave it a quick shake beneath the surface to disperse the remaining film on the surface to help prevent it from being accidentally deposited on the finished piece. The part was then placed on a rack to dry before it was again sprayed with ceramic coating, this time a matte clear to seal the dipped pattern.

piece using ordinary painter’s tape. The tape helps keep the edges of the fi lm in place while dipping. The piece was then placed in the dipping tank and after 60 seconds it was sprayed with water transfer activator. After a brief wait following spraying, Henson carefully submerged our part in the water, apply-

www.gobigbrain.com 318.746.1564

Guns Up Hydrographics 806.549.2022

Cerakote/NIC Industries www.cerakotehightemp.com 866.774.7628

ing the fi lm smoothly and evenly. After a quick shake to prevent the remaining fi lm from contaminating the part on the way back out, Henson pulled it from the water to dry before applying a final coat of matte ceramic clear.

The finished product is not only cool looking, but also adds significant

durability and temperature resistance to our supercharger gear drive. While the process was easy, we sincerely appreciated getting to see a pro like Henson give it a go before even considering doing it ourselves. With materials from Cerakote and Big Brain, Henson’s work was outstanding!

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