While most colors are ready for service after cooling to room temperature, silver ceramic requires at least one additional step. Because it has a dull gray appearance when fully cured, each header is placed into a vibratory polisher for 10 to 15 minutes. The hopper is filled with porcelain beads of various sizes and a mixture of soap and water that, when agitated, polishes the surface.
White ceramic can also withstand temperatures up to about 2,200 degrees F when cured, but the entire process is more involved. The two-part product takes about 30 minutes to mix, and the liquid requires agitation for an hour prior to application. The finish isn't baked, but is instead ambient-cured. It takes about 7 days after application for the solvents to dissipate. The piece absolutely cannot be touched during that time. While nothing in the hobby normally reaches the maximum temperature range, white ceramic is popular with hobbyists seeking a nostalgic look for an old-school hot rod.
HPP: What types of materials can be ceramic-coated?
JT: Any object that can withstand a sustained temperature of 500 degrees F can be ceramic-coated. The most popular pieces we coat are associated with exhaust, but this process isn't limited to just headers or exhaust manifolds. We commonly coat complete systems, including mufflers
Because of silver ceramic's shiny appearance, hobbyists have found that it's a cheap alternative to chroming. We've coated such pieces as intake manifolds, rear end housings, driveshafts, accessory brackets and pulleys, and small parts like hood hinges and latches for customers. We've even coated steel wheels in silver ceramic, which gives the appearance of polished aluminum.
Though many companies consider the polishing process complete once a component is removed from the vibratory polisher and thoroughly washed Trail goes one step further and hand-polishes the silver ceramic finish to improve its luster for his customers.
Something to remember when ceramic-coating metal components, however, is that texture will show in the finish, so when starting with a used piece, any pre-existing scuffs or pits left after blasting will likely be visible if they're not repaired prior to the application process. The latter is especially true when coating heavily rusted pieces.
HPP: Can areas that you don't want ceramic-coated be masked off?
JT: All fitting and metal work must be done prior to coating, but ceramic won't affect slip-fit-type joints or thread surfaces like powdercoat can, so there's rarely a need to spend much time masking or plugging. We simply tape off any area that we don't want coated prior to the application process, then remove the tape before placing the piece into the oven.
HPP: How do you maintain a ceramic-coated finish?
JT: Because ceramic is so durable, it doesn't require an excessive amount of maintenance-but that doesn't suggest it's maintenance free. We tell our customers to treat a silver ceramic finish as if it were aluminum and regularly polish the exterior with a high-quality metal polish. This will typically remove oil that gets baked onto exhaust pieces, too, but 0000 steel wool can be used in stubborn areas. The suggested method for maintaining all other colors is a simple soap-and-water washing.
HPP: How are repairs performed?
JT: Ceramic coat is impervious to many chemicals and doesn't easily stain, but if something like plastic burns onto the surface, or a stain, scuff, or abrasion occurs, spot repairs can be performed. It can be difficult to maintain finish continuity, though. We've found it's generally easier to completely strip the component and recoat the entire piece.
HPP: Are there any other benefits associated with ceramic coat?
JT: In addition to increased component life, ceramic coat creates a thermal barrier. In an exhaust system, it can limit the dissipation of exhaust charge heat through the pipe as the charge makes its way toward the muffler and tailpipe, which allows the charge to maintain a greater degree of velocity. Most see this as a performance benefit. We typically coat the inner and outer surfaces of exhaust components to maximize the effect and have found that ceramic-coating cuts radiant heat in half, significantly reducing underhood temperatures.
 | 
After a somewhat tedious process, this header-along with its mate-is ready for service. The attractive finish requires little maintenance, is highly durable, and shouldn't chip or peel. It also reduces underhood operating temperature and, because of its excellent thermal barrier qualities, can possibly provide a slight performance boost. | 
Not limited to just headers, Trail's company often coats exhaust tubing, too. Notice how much better this well-used x-type crossover assembly looks after ceramic-coating. Trail adds that the size of a company's oven is the only limit when ceramic-coating in any color but silver. The size of the vibratory polisher is the limiting factor in those instances. |