Painting / Powder Coating Wheels Advice

McBoxer · Post by **McBoxer** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:43 pm

Fresh on the heels of my "will this rear wheel fit" question, I'm now after advice on changing the colour. My new wheel was freshly powder coated in black just before I bought it. It has never been fitted to a bike, In fact it's barely been outside (bar the short journey from car to garage). My question is this:
What is the best way to change the colour (to BCR blue)?

It goes against the grain to blast off a perfectly good coat of powder coat just because I want a different colour. Is there a good way to put a different colour on top of the existing one - ie spray paint, more powder etc? Would this last or just cause me problems? Or should I just MTFU and get the thing done properly?

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:06 pm

Get on the phone to an expert and ask them.
01527 529659
http://www.redditchshotblasting.co.uk

McBoxer · Post by **McBoxer** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:23 pm

SP250 wrote:Get on the phone to an expert and ask them.
01527 529659
http://www.redditchshotblasting.co.uk

I might just do that - they're only 15 miles from my house. Do you have personal experience of them? Are they any good?

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:25 pm

you can get the paint fro RS Motorcycle paint - very helpful chaps

Motocod · Post by **Motocod** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:44 pm

I've done a fair bit of work with powder coating in the past, and also had a few wheels done too. To be honest with you I think you're going to get a far better result if you get the wheels stripped bare. Powder coating is a pretty thick finish, and if you coat on to the top of an existing layer they'll potentially end up looking a bit nasty.

Added to that, as the process uses an electrical charge (and I don't know for sure) I'm assuming you'd need to have bare metal in order for the powder coat particles to "stick" to the surface prior to them going in the oven to bake it on.

Most places that do coating will strip them all for you as part of the process anyway.

The alternative would be to spray-paint on top of the existing powder coating. This will be much thinner, but far less durable.

Nik

SP250 · Post by **SP250** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:04 pm

McBoxer Al

Yes I have used them in the past and whilst not the cheapest, they do a cracking job, both blasting and powder coating.

McBoxer · Post by **McBoxer** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:46 pm

Spoke to them on the way home and they seem like a helpful bunch. He reckoned around £60 for one wheel, which I didn't think was too bad.
That was for their standard colours though, so I'll have to call in and see what they look like. If I want it a non standard colour it will be more.
I'll take a sample over with me and get him to quote me for a match if it's not one of their standard hues (sp).

metropolis2k · Post by **metropolis2k** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:00 pm

I'd be interested to see how you get on. I'm thinking of picking up a spare rear but also would do it BCR blue (my rear wheel is white now) for the track setup.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:01 pm

I'm told that two-pack paint is a better option for wheels, than powdercoating?

Al

Hayden · Post by **Hayden** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:18 pm

if your after an alternative for powder coating in the west mids, these fellows are good.

http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/powderco ... ating.html

quick turn around, reasonable price and good job.

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 6:41 pm

Blackal wrote:I'm told that two-pack paint is a better option for wheels, than powdercoating?

Al

This man talks sense powder coating is pants

McBoxer · Post by **McBoxer** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 8:01 pm

Boxadog 2000 wrote:
Blackal wrote:I'm told that two-pack paint is a better option for wheels, than powdercoating?

Al
This man talks sense powder coating is pants

What's going on - I thought people had been singing the praises of powder coating for years?
I'm so confused (doesn't take much, admittedly....)

Motocod · Post by **Motocod** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:20 pm

Powder coating is an extremely commonplace way of making a thick and durable finish on any metal surface. Conventionally painted methods can be made to be just as good, and potentially glossier, but will require a great deal more work (and cost to do so). Provided wheels are handled with care when having new tyres then powder coating is as durable as anything out there, and certainly not less-so than any other technique. It's good value and gives an excellent result.

The only issue you may find is that a powder coater will have to buy in powder if you want a specific colour, and typically there will be a minimum order value for buying the powder. So you may find it's potentially harder to get exactly the shade you want, as you might with spray paint, where it can be more easily mixed to match a specific shade.

Personally I wouldn't hesitate in having my wheels done by powder coat.

Nik

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:16 pm

Powder coating is good for commercial duplications
End off
A cheap usage for industrial / automotive applications anybody who wants to disagree can fcuk off and look at the history

If you want a long term fish two pack is without the a doubt the best

markwin · Post by **markwin** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:34 pm

How erudite....