Powder Coating

[SOTVEN]

SOTVEN wrote:
> wrote:
> >
> I KNOW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT POWDER COATING. YET, I AM INTERESTED IN IT AND I HAVE
> OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING. MY 2000 HARLEY HAS POWDER COATED FRAME AND SWING ARM. IT IS
> NOT A PUMPERED BIKE, AND AT LESS THAN 5 INCHES FROM THE GROUND I ASSURE YOU STONES
> AND PEBLES DO HIT THE FRAME OFTEN AS THE FRONT WHEEL CATAPULTS THEM. NO FLACKES, NO
> PITTING, NO SCRATCHES, NO RUST. ALSO AT MY WORK, THEY BOUGHT A CAR LIFT, USED, AND IT
> IS POWDERCOATED. OFTEN TOOLS HAVE DROPED ON ITS SWING ARMS, AND THOUGH THEY HAVE
> CAUSED NICKS, THE POWDER COAT BENT TO MATCH THE NICK, AND DID NOT FLAKE OFF. PERSONALLY, I HAVE NEVER SEEN PAINT
> HOLD THAT GOOD BESIDES PHOSPHATING. SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT HAS TO DO AS
> AFOREMENTIONED WITH PREPARATION, MATERIALS USED, AND SKILLED WITH THE PERSON
> INVOLVED. I THINK I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO PC MY ENTIRE M AND NOT JUST THE FRAME IF I
> WAS SURE THAT THE RESULTS WOULD BE AS DECENT. JUST MY TWO CENTS

[Master Yota]

On show quality jobs we have blasted and coated each spring leaf individually, it has turned out and held up super well. About the only way to prevent rust weeping from between the leaves.

Quite to my point Charles; I guesss I could have been clearer that I was meaning more towards a useable truck, driven somewhat regularly. On a show truck or trailer queen that see's minimal driving the PC on the springs and such would last alot longer.

I still wouldn't do it though, as painted springs are much easier to touch up (should they get scratched) as no judge at a car show is going to take the spring pack apart to see what its like between the leaves... I live in the rust belt, and I've yet to see a leaf spring (or pack) die soley from rust. As to Charles point about rust weeping through, that does happen, but its nothing to worry about, other than cosmeticaly un-appealing. No coating will survive long between the leaf springs as they move against each other while the suspension articulates; unless there is a teflon pad at the end of each spring tip to help the springs slide. That alone creates a different problem, as the pads create a small gap between the leafs which allows for debris collection (sand, mud, and whatnot) which will act just like sandpaper and wear the coating off.

To sum up - PC is great on a show truck, but not worth the money on a driver.

[MSeriesRebuild]

All points valid to some degree. We also have powder coated components on trucks that see hard use; still holds up better although in such applications it is much more a protection issue than an appearance one. I still have not seen anything that will beat it dollar for dollar. In cases like this, the cash involved in time we spend doing an acceptable prep and application of a quality product in house on items like frames and frame area components is very comparable to the cost of powder coating. So like I said, $ for $, I have not seen a better alternative than quality powder coat on an undercarriage. We have also been through the undercoating thing using various products. We've found that to be WAY more likely to crack, flake off in huge pieces over time, and develope underlying rust issues than a quality powder coat or wet coat job. In hard use applications we typically do not go to extremes of coating individual leaves, but we really do strive to get the best job we can for $$ spent while staying in accordance with the end use application. That almost always pays off to do powder coating, gets the owner the best coating, many times with less $$ spent.

Someone mentioned that springs don't typically rust away. I have a '48 power wagon here now awaiting restoration that has that very issue. All pacs are nothing but scrap as a result, worst case I've ever seen, so it does happen.

[HingsingM37]

wrote:
> I had my frame done. It was reasonable as I have a very reputable
> industrial coater just up the street. I would have still been trying to
> sand off old paint. It was easier to blast and coat. My finish by Thomarios
> Brothers in Copley ,Ohio seemed bullet proof to me. I gave it the hammer
> test and it did not leave a mark.
>
> http://www.g741.org/photogallery/main.p ... temId=2203
>
> As was stated here, the prep and materials used are they key to a good
> powdercoat job. $1000.00 seems high, I don't think I spent that total for
> all the coating on my rig?
> I found the PC was more reasonable than buying primer, so I had them put a
> flat black PC on all the parts I had blasted. What I wanted to paint I
> roughed up with scoth brite and top coated with OD

[Juan]

I was going to add the same, I think that powdercoating (or wet painting) springs packs together is a waste of time and money, you have to do it leave by leave individually to do a thorough job.
I would go with Powder coat without hesitation. I've powder coated, bumpers, wheels, frames, control arms in my Chevy project car and it's as tough as nails, if it's done right.