Powdercoating

[Aha]

Hi Radsters, anyone recommend a powdercoater for a frameset? Also how much for chrome powdercoat finish?
Thanks

[Midschoolfool]

You can get off to a good start by doing some research and finding out what a kilo of powder will cost you. No I don't mean phone Al Pacino

But aye, most PCs include a kilo of powder in the price, so I would see how much chrome powder costs (I am guessing a lot). They usually charge around £60-£80 I found for the frame. Forks added £10 for me, bars added another £10. Mine included powder though so I thought I made out quite well.

You may find it's cheaper up there where you are 'cause everything is more expensive down here.

[Aha]

Thanks, I only heard of the chrome powdercoat finish recently and was considering chrome plating but I guess that costs more, is slightly heavier and not as resistant to weathering?

I joined here yesterday, so I should read up more, but the text is a bit fiddly. 

[Midschoolfool]

Powder coat is thicker than paint yes. It's basically plastic. They charge your frame statically then spray it on. The static makes it stick. Then they just bake it until the powder melts. I had to peel some off for my steerer tube and so on and it has a green layer underneath it. I would imagine to prevent rust etc.

However, a good powder job will be no thicker than paint. It's only noobs who use far too much. For example my seat clamp went straight on, no problems.

Any new idea in paint or powder is usually expensive. I remember looking up House of Kolor's chameleon paint when I was painting my car and it was $480 a quart. You need about four quarts. Then it needed a black base coat first, KO seals and god knows what else. I was looking at three grand in paint :S

If you can find the price of the powder then as I say just add £60-£80 for a frame and go from there

[Aha]

So I guess powdercoating is better than chrome plating?

I heard the powdercoater should mask / block areas such as brake mounts before powdercoating.

Thought about spraying frameset myself, but I'm not sure about fumes and which respirator to get. 

[Midschoolfool]

Hmm not sure it's better than chrome. It will peel off with age, same as any finish really. I will say though, it's far more resistant than paint. Mine should be covered in marks right now...

And yes a good powder coater will already know what needs masking, but make sure you point it out. I used a dremel to remove some coating from the steerer tube (sanding attachment) and a stanley knife to remove it from the bearing cap on the forks. Everything else (inner seat tube, inner crank,brake mounts, inner frame etc) he masked perfectly.

[griff]

Send it to SBD, job done 

[griff]

& just in case you needed to see why..
http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,56789.0.html

[Spen69]

SBD is without a doubt your man if you're building a show-winner or pride and joy. His finish and attention is off the scale.

However, if you want a local bloke to cover up the battered frame you've ridden for years and plan to continue doing so, then I'm on the same page. My local powder-coater charges me £30 for a frame and £15 for forks. He masks the machined surfaces and knows what he's doing as he's got a load of o/s bikes himself. He also does the aquablasting for Tuffs. He even experimented on my Knightgoose frame as he had some candy blue left and wanted to try it over white rather than the base silver (I think) - the results are great I think and it still only cost me £45

Obviously as I ride it then it's scratched to fook already and I don't care as it looks amazing. The new decals can actually cost more than the paint in the end

[Midschoolfool]

SBD is without a doubt your man if you're building a show-winner or pride and joy. His finish and attention is off the scale.

However, if you want a local bloke to cover up the battered frame you've ridden for years and plan to continue doing so, then I'm on the same page. My local powder-coater charges me £30 for a frame and £15 for forks. He masks the machined surfaces and knows what he's doing as he's got a load of o/s bikes himself. He also does the aquablasting for Tuffs. He even experimented on my Knightgoose frame as he had some candy blue left and wanted to try it over white rather than the base silver (I think) - the results are great I think and it still only cost me £45

Obviously as I ride it then it's scratched to fook already and I don't care as it looks amazing. The new decals can actually cost more than the paint in the end

Great price

[Spen69]

Great price

Yep, a complete result as they are actually an alloy wheel refurb specialist. Sid1972 found them just round the corner from where he lives and the bloke who runs it was amazed when we brought him half a dozen framesets at a time to do

Not been for a while now but he was aquablasting a set of Tuffs for £25 - a good few of the lads on here have had them done and I even helped out a few by taking them up there. He also did a set of Z's and they came out equally brilliant.

http://www.metalmagicwheelrefurb.co.uk/

They are based in Barnsley, so not handy for Birmingham unfortunately, but an example of what Aha is looking for I'd say

[CustardLips]

Send it to SBD, job done 

^^^ Do this. ^^^

[Midschoolfool]

Great price

Yep, a complete result as they are actually an alloy wheel refurb specialist. Sid1972 found them just round the corner from where he lives and the bloke who runs it was amazed when we brought him half a dozen framesets at a time to do

Not been for a while now but he was aquablasting a set of Tuffs for £25 - a good few of the lads on here have had them done and I even helped out a few by taking them up there. He also did a set of Z's and they came out equally brilliant.

http://www.metalmagicwheelrefurb.co.uk/

They are based in Barnsley, so not handy for Birmingham unfortunately, but an example of what Aha is looking for I'd say

TBH I had absolutely no idea how much powder coating cost until I watched a few eps of Wheeler Dealers. They had some parts PCed and paid about £60. I figured that was a reasonable amount for a frame tbh.

I paid £100 for F&F and bars. My other option was this guy who wanted £150 plus I had to supply the powder 

Even I knew that was a rip off.

[Aha]

Thanks everyone, I'm looking into all options. 

Haven't heard of aquablasting, guess it's like a Karcher pressure washer, maybe that would work on my white (aged a bit yellow) Aero Zytecs? I'll try bleach and scrubbing first.

[Midschoolfool]

Thanks everyone, I'm looking into all options. 

Haven't heard of aquablasting, guess it's like a Karcher pressure washer, maybe that would work on my white (aged a bit yellow) Aero Zytecs? I'll try bleach and scrubbing first.

Shame we can't put several pics and longer description on our profile pages for easy reference. 

Don't use bleach.