Powder coating Vs. Painting

[DaveR]

Hi,

I am restoring a bike and want to know if it is best to powder coat the
frame or paint it. The frame is steel.
I have heard that powder coating will chip and then the frame will sweat.
However there appears to be a new powder coating technology that penetrates
the steel.

Can anybody help me?

Cheers

[Zebee Johnstone]

"DaveR" <d...@wang.co.nz> writes:

>Hi,

I've been powder coating frames for years. I have had some chipping
on badly done coating, but on the whole it stands up well.

There are people who prefer paint, notably for vintage bikes - the
finish is more authentic.

If you do paint, you have to prepare very well, and do many coats,
otherwise it will flake. Probably not viable to get it professionally
done unless its for a concours job.

There's an article in the April/May 1990 issue of Classic Mechanics (which
I happen to have here in this huge untidy mess of Magazines) which
says (parapharased):

Stove Enamelling:

trad Brit finish. if frame is badly pitted or rusted, no go as the
fillers can't stand the heat of the oven. has to be stripped and
completely absolutely degreased.

Powder Coating:
"uparalleled for durability and a high gloss level. You can drag a
powder coated frame around the yard and still not mark the finish"
can double coat over pits but may need filling.

As the mag points out, preparation is all. the frame has to be clean,
straight and all pits and dents filled.

Don;t forget to get it checked for straightness *before* painting...

Zebee

[Devon]

DaveR wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I am restoring a bike and want to know if it is best to powder coat the
> frame or paint it. The frame is steel.
> I have heard that powder coating will chip and then the frame will sweat.
> However there appears to be a new powder coating technology that penetrates
> the steel.
>

> Can anybody help me?
>
> Cheers

__________

Powder coating can chip, however, it is a more durable finish then
painting generally.....

I suggest you look at the costs and if they are similar go for the
powder coat....a better finish...

PS...Steel does not sweat, unless it has done some unduly exercise...LOL

Devon

[Ian Drysdale]

DaveR wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I am restoring a bike and want to know if it is best to powder coat the
> frame or paint it. The frame is steel.
> I have heard that powder coating will chip and then the frame will sweat.
> However there appears to be a new powder coating technology that penetrates
> the steel.
>
> Can anybody help me?
>
> Cheers

Powdercoating is now an excellent process - but is 'operater sensitive'.
I.E. -a dickhead with a powdergun will still do a crap job.
Avoid the continuous chain systems as they don't get the job hot enuogh
and you will be restricted in your color choice. The 'batch' system may
look less high tech but will always give a better job. Watch for body-
filler and putty etc as a good oven will reach 120 deg C. There are
special fillers you can get to stand this heat.
Most industrial paint shops will mix up touch up paint to the powdercoat
specification - perfect matches too.
Beware of old boxes of powder lying around - the latest "composite"
powders are so much better than the stuff of only a couple of years ago
it's not funny.
You can mask up bits you don't want coated or tell the operater and they
can just blow the powder out before it goes in the oven.( Inside the head
stock etc. )
Summary - good finish/durability & cheap for what you get. Still - 2 pack
has a smell that would get the Pope into glue sniffing.

IAN

[Dan Moloney]

In article <01bb9e9e$3165d800$16a2...@dgr95.wang.co.nz>, "DaveR" <d...@wang.co.nz> says:
>
>Hi,
>
>I am restoring a bike and want to know if it is best to powder coat the
>frame or paint it. The frame is steel.
>I have heard that powder coating will chip and then the frame will sweat.
>However there appears to be a new powder coating technology that penetrates
>the steel.
>
>Can anybody help me?
>
>Cheers

A friend of mine goit his frame powder coated, oh
about 4 years ago now (KDX200), it looked great
when he got it done and it still looks good after
4 years of weekend bushbashing. It is (the powder
coat) still looking surprising unmarked considering
the pounding it has copped. It cost him approx $70
with him taking in the bare frame with all the bearing
surfaces taped up. i imagine yuo would be looking at around
the $100 mark for the same job now.
After seeing Barry's bike i'd have no hesitation getting
it powdercoated.

Cheers
Dan
*********************************************
"A graduate student eh! How come you guys can
fly to the moon but you can't make my shoes
smell good?"
-Homer Simpson
*********************************************