Powder coat or paint wheels?

[dern]

I have some wheels that are pretty scuffed up and I want to change their colour (I think). Is paint or powder coat better for longevity?

Thanks

[weeksy]

Powder. You should've asked at weekend. We had our zx6 wheels done a year or so ago. They look brand new

[dern]

I hadn't thought about it then to be honest. I was on the way home and I started to think about putting the honda I had at Pembrey back on the road and what it would need.

[Yorick]

Rear of bike up on stand. Mask off the tyre.

Put into gear. Start engine. Rattle can onto wheel.

They look like new

[mangocrazy]

Powder is definitely more hard wearing than paint, but it does need a bit more prep (removing bearings etc.) The powder coat guy I use in Shropshire has a 5 step process that I'm not sure all powder coaters use:

1. Chemically strip then vapour blast wheels
2. Mask up or plug all threads and bearing surfaces
3. Put wheels in oven for approx 30 minutes to de-gas; if you don't do this you run the risk of pinholes from escaping gas.
4. Apply primer and bake in oven
5. Apply top coat and bake in oven

In particular a lot of the cheaper outfits omit steps 3 and 4 and may use bead blasting rather than vapour blast.

[dern]

Powder is definitely more hard wearing than paint, but it does need a bit more prep (removing bearings etc.) The powder coat guy I use in Shropshire has a 5 step process that I'm not sure all powder coaters use:

1. Chemically strip then vapour blast wheels
2. Mask up or plug all threads and bearing surfaces
3. Put wheels in oven for approx 30 minutes to de-gas; if you don't do this you run the risk of pinholes from escaping gas.
4. Apply primer and bake in oven
5. Apply top coat and bake in oven

In particular a lot of the cheaper outfits omit steps 3 and 4 and may use bead blasting rather than vapour blast.

I spoke to a guy who was exhibiting at a local car show and was talking to him about doing a frame I have too. I'll talk to him again about the wheels and check the process he uses so this is really useful, thanks.

[mangocrazy]

There might also be a final clear coat that's applied; I'd need to check with Andy on that.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Have a look at someone's work before spending money, some powder coaters like a thick coating.

[ChrisW]

Definitely powder coat if it was me, but then I've got somewhere I've used a few times & trust. Find somewhere busy with lots of good reviews/feedback.

[wheelnut]

Last bike I had powder coated was a 1982 DT50MX*, in about 1986. Did the swingarm and the fame in red.

*technically a DT60MX - it had a big bore kit.

[weeksy]

Bloke near Trickys did mine. Well, I dropped bike at my mechanic mate at MSG racing and he sorted it all through ilthe bloke