Steel frame restoration, powdercoat or paint?

[benhall]

Yeah looks nice, be sure to ducttape the frame rails when you put the engine in. Wish I'd followed my own advice last time.


Hmm. . .disc mounting area doesn't look like it was masked. . .Should be bare metal flat. Check all threads & bearing holes before starting a build-up.

Could be some playing with a dremel & sanding mop.

Yes i did "hmmmph" over that, i will figure something out

its glossy as shit, the frame isnt because i wanted matte silver

[gavinnz]

Ahh bullshit. Powder will easily cope with that.

Bullshit ha? Pretty arrogant comment mate. Are you going to personally guarantee that EVERY powder coat job is done to a high standard and could not be damaged by tape? Big ask.

[F5 Dave]

Yes i did "hmmmph" over that, i will figure something out

its glossy as shit, the frame isnt because i wanted matte silver

Wax the wheels they will repel chain lube better. You can get anti graffiti clear powder gloss coatings that help.

[F5 Dave]

Bullshit ha? Pretty arrogant comment mate. Are you going to personally guarantee that EVERY powder coat job is done to a high standard and could not be damaged by tape? Big ask.

Yes of course I will, and while I'm about it I'll guarantee every house roof paint job has been properly prepared and will last 20 years.

You are trying to argue by attacking from a tangent. Ok I did call bullshit, but you are clearly biased to your profession of wet spray. I prefer to use what I see fit for job at hand and many other reasons including cost. Last frame was 2pack, next will depend.

[gavinnz]

"but you are clearly biased to your profession of wet spray."
Yes I do prefer good spray over good powdercoat... BUT I would prefer good powder coat over bad spray work any day.

It really comes down to the applicators skill and the correctness of their process on the day that dictates the quality of the result, be it spray, powder or accounting for that matter!

I am also into very old cars and one day someone asked the question... "is stuffing upholstery with traditional springs and horse hair "better" than using modern foam materials?"

Some said foam was total rubbish and horse hair was the only way.. other said horse hair was utter crap and foam was the dog bollocks.... and they were all right because they were basing their comments on the experiance they had with individual tradesmen they had do the work. Some did horse hair well some did not, some did foam well some did not.

So when the question of Powdercoat vis Spray paint.. to me it's the same story... it comes down to the processes, skill and knowledge of the individual applicator.
I think powdercoat has made big quality improvements on the past 20 years.

Back to the tape for a minute... other then just pulling paint or powdercoat off the job, some glues used on some tapes can soften some paints and leave and inprint in the work. If put on to early they can stop solvents coming out of the work which can react with the glues and cause trouble also.

Their are literally hundreds of ways to cock up a spray job (most of which I have done and learned from over the past 25 years!!) from start to finish and one of the skills of the painter or powdercoater is to know them and avoid them. Most of them seem silly and pedantic from those outside the profession but if doing something causes a problem 1 time in 100 we still want to avoid it ALL the time.

Anywho I am just trying to be helpful to those who might read the tape idea and use the wrong tape on badly applied finish to soon and be the 1 in 100 or more that has a problem with it.

Regards
Gavin

[benhall]

If someone had got a frame coated and tape pulled it off, i thing theyd have more to worry about...

anyways seems pretty tough, ive been putting the swingarm bearings in etc

[gavinnz]

If someone had got a frame coated and tape pulled it off, i thing theyd have more to worry about...

anyways seems pretty tough, ive been putting the swingarm bearings in etc

True!
How much did the shop tell you about what they did?
What do you know of the process that shop used? What prep did they do? Did they strip the old paint right off back to metal? (not good or bad by the way, just interesting).
Did the powdercoat use a baking element to the system?

Regards
Gavin

[benhall]

i request to be stripped back, both the wheels and frame, they then heat it, prime it, heat it, coated and then heated again i assume, man knew what he was on about

[jamesfry]

Powder coating is the way to go. Shop around and find a good price. If you get a price you don't like make the guy a counter offer. Make them work for your business a little. I think paint will be cheaper but it won't be as wear resistant.

[F5 Dave]

Hey James. fashionably late to the party, but check out the pic above of the finished items