[pepi]

Just wondering what the general thinking about powder coating might be.

Do you find it an advantage?

Do you like the finish?

What do you think about the price of the service?

and of course mention any other likes or dislikes you might think of .......................... just curious

[DV8]

Hey Pepi there is a discussion right now going on about chassis paint I found alot of good info there. I changed my mind from powdercosting to using a epoxy primer. There are alot more options for me that way...PLus its more cost effective. just my .02

[dinger]

I like the Powder Coating, had my chassis and frame done for my 36 Ford. When I think of the slippages and dropped parts bouncing off the frame that would have scratched paint, I like it more, not to mention the abuse a frame is going to see on the road. The finish is only as good as the prep, much like getting something chromed, a bit more forgiving than chrome tho. The price, it's fairly reasonable here, sandblasting and coating everything I had done was around $500. You can see some pics in my journal. Dan

[willys36@aol.com]

Dinger speaks with straight tongue. As I have said many times on this board, I powder coat EVERYTHING that isn't sheet metal receiving the purty catalyzed urethane show-stopping paint, or isn't chromed. I coat entire chassis and suspensions, engines (blocks, heads, pans, manifolds), polished aluminum tranny housings (clear), inner fender wells, steel wheels, exhaust systems (can coat everything but the headers which should be ceramic/metallic coated. Everything else in the exhaust system is cool enough that PC will work fine). As far as finishes go the sky is the limit. Infinite colors, metallics, candys, flat semi-gloss, high gloss, hammer-tone. Just depends on how big your coater is and if he keeps a good supply of powders on hand. As Dinger mentioned, you can get the entire frame and suspension coated for not much more than it costs just to have it sand blasted!

[tannersdad]

I build childrens ride ons (trikes & bikes). I have had them professionally painted and I have had them professionally powder coated. The powder coated trikes have held up better in the weather and in childrens play. The powder coating takes a beating without chipping off as easily as painted trikes.

[schnitz]

I've had it in my mind to have the frame for my Monte powder coated since I first decided to frame-off the car. I'll call for a price tomorrow after I get off work to see what a local place charges. I never really gave it a thought to check prices just because IMO powder coating is the best you can do.


In a while, Chet.

[robs ss]

Pepi, you ask several questions.

I'm not sure about cost, but from what I've read, powder coat is really durable.

How do you touch up a scratch on a powdercoated surface.

If you have an epoxy finish, you can air brush it really fast, never see the scratch.

Can you put any filler on a frame and then powdercoat it.

Won't powder coat fill in threads and hole supports more then a paint, because if you powdercoat, won't the heat burn or peel masking tape, I'm just asking on this one.

The other thing on using filler on a frame.

Most people don't, but you might want to put filler on some of the parts that are more easily seen.

When you walk up to a car show and the hood is open, the motor looks really nice, and then theres that pockmarked frame, and the top of the control arms, same thing.

Then they will look under the back and look at that nice exhaust system and smooth rust free gas tank, then theres that pock marked frame.

If you fill and finish off the the most noticeable areas on your frame, it tells anyone looking at it that its a good indication that the rest of the car is done right.

Like looking at panel gaps, its very, very rare to ever see one that they put those gaps right on the money.

These are just some things to think about.

But powder coat is some really nice stuff, and if somebody wants to do it faster, and not have to deal with a lot of sanding, powdercoat is a good way to go.

Rob

__________________
"There are questions to be answered, and answers to be questioned"

Chassis, Body Jig, Trunk Pan Pics.
http://webpages.charter.net/2manitowoc

Paint booth, Ventilation, etc.
http://www.2manitowoc.com/paintroom.html

[robs ss]

I forgot to mention, a few I have talked to thought that pockmarks and scratches would be covered a lot more then they did using por-15 or powdercoat, if you want your ride on the money, get the filler and sandpaper out.

Rob

__________________
"There are questions to be answered, and answers to be questioned"

Chassis, Body Jig, Trunk Pan Pics.
http://webpages.charter.net/2manitowoc

Paint booth, Ventilation, etc.
http://www.2manitowoc.com/paintroom.html

[pepi]

thank you for the info and links, very useful. I agree power coatings are durable, anyone had any engine parts done, intake manifold, heads?

[DV8]

do you weld in all the holes in the frame or just fill them in??

[robs ss]

If you have a rust hole, cut it out and weld a new piece in it.

On areas that are pockmarked, or where it has an endent, or deep scratch, you can grind it to bare metal, but don't grind your metal thin.

Also you can take some 80 grit by hand and get it to bare metal.

I went over all the bad area with a small air grinder with a 36 grit disc.

Several different ways to do it.

Then body filler, then sanded that with 80 grit by hand or a da.

Then I sprayed the whole frame with z-chrome sprayable body filler, which is a rust preventive and sealer, then sanded that with 220, with a da and a lot of it by hand.

Then two coats of epoxy primer.

Did the same thing to the control arms, rearend etc.

I sandblasted everything before I even started sanding and filling.

Its like doing the outside of a car body, if you see the scratches through the primer, you'll see it through the epoxy.

If you spray body filler, make sure you mix it good, and while your spraying, shake up the paint cup every once in a while, the filler will settle in your paint cup.

You also need a larger nozzle to spray it.

Hope some of this helps.

Rob

__________________
"There are questions to be answered, and answers to be questioned"

Chassis, Body Jig, Trunk Pan Pics.
http://webpages.charter.net/2manitowoc

Paint booth, Ventilation, etc.
http://www.2manitowoc.com/paintroom.html

[35WINDOW]

I'm on board with the Powder coating thing, and I have many pieces Powder Coated on my Project, but I didn't Powder Coat my Frame because I know I am going to have to drill into it, (for some particular Bracket, Hose Clamp, whatever) and may have to do some possible Welding (it seems like nothing is ever perfect and I wanted the flexibility).

I had my frame Epoxy Primed, BC/CC-as far as filler before Powder Coating, my best friend is the Owner of an Industrial Coating Company (I don't pay anything to get stuff Powder Coated- )-he says if you use Metal 2 Metal you can indeed Powder Coat over it-

[robs ss]

35 window, thats a good thing to know.

Rob

There are questions to be answered, and answers to be questioned"

Chassis, Body Jig, Trunk Pan Pics.
http://webpages.charter.net/2manitowoc

Paint booth, Ventilation, etc.
http://www.2manitowoc.com/paintroom.html

[Deuce]

I have the rear end housing, brake backing plates and some other parts power coated ... and it looks real good ... until you put it next to a epoxy painted surface ( the frame )



No where near as shiny or as good looking ... IMHO ...

[RPM]

you can do some of your own powder coating. I bought a gun from Harbor Freight and got a used oven and I do small stuff in my garage. Intakes, valve covers, a arms anything that will fit in the oven. It is time consuming but worth it in the long run. The parts are durable and it looks good.