Powder coating chromoly. DON'T DO IT, apparently.

[aditup2004]

I have just been watching American Chopper, on which they are building a drag bike, with a chromoly frame (they normally use high carbon steel). In the part when it comes to going to the powder coaters/painters, they pointed out that all the components have to be painted, opposed to powder coating, as the heating process of powder coating, has a SERIOUS detremental affect to the strength of the frame. WHOOPS. Is this right? If so, nearly all my builds are gonna snap! Glad I've sold em. Only joking! Any shed any light on this subject? Cheers, Ad

[greentoad]

Hmmm    :o

There could be something in this -

http://forums.svttexas.com/showthread.php't=6869

This really all needs reading -

http://my.execpc.com/~davewrit/Powder.html

[oberonspacefruit]

whoops.

[Bob_Acid]

it's something to do with the heat at which powder is appied having an effect on the heat treatment of the tubing. If it were that much of a problem we'd have been seeing frames cracking and breaking all over the place as neally all restoration bikes these days seem to be powdered.

Not to worry though we'll all be dead from bird flu in a few weeks anyway so it won't matter.

[oberonspacefruit]

heh heh. ive been rubbing dead birds in my eyes all week. im tired of life

[OrgasmDonor]

not too sure dudes could be wrong, but i reckon the stress goin through a dragster is a smidgeon more than what goes through your chainstays (mightymini's chainstays are the exeption), gotta keep things in perspective dudes.

Ad, Stop scarin people dude, thats the last time i buy owt off you !!!!!!!!!!!

[aditup2004]

You never by owt anyway, always have to give things to you, Tight git Ad
SCARE, SCARE, SCARE 

[Sanmarcopizza]

Lets face, I would have thought that the multitude of companies out there who powder coat their frames would know whether it was going to be detrimental, and if so would just paint them. You have quality manufacturers of low quantity hand built frames, such as Curtis & Pashley in the UK who have been in the bike building industry for 20 years+ and they powder coat rather than paint.

[graeme]

Thinking about it, powder is baked at what, bout 180 deg if i remember right, anyhow, how hot does metal get whem you weld it? Loads hotter than baking temp.
So the frame would already be seriously weakened at the joins, and a few inch at least away from every join.
Dont bikes snap near joins?
This is all just typed as i think.
If bikes snap near the joins, it could be more evidence this is true.
Or, the fact that all chro-mo bikes survive after welding, means that the heat of power coating will have little effect.

[TwoBobRob]

I wouldn't worry about it.  People have been powder coating MX bike frames for donkeys years, and you don't hear of any problems there...

[retrorider.u.k]

a complete load of tosh ! hope you dont own a TVR then anyone..

[theRuler]

yeh go powder coat your old chromo frame
then force a set of 1 1/8" forks in it

joking aside, do bike manufacturers spray or powder?
my old redline mx2 was sprayed. well i think it was - i just shouted BOO and the paint fell off

[missfitsat101]

i dont think any bmx's should be powder coated  they should all be painted

[sam hudson]

Controversial but i agree...sort of.Only because its hard to find a really good coater that you can trust...i know a few exist ..not near me tho.Powder coating is as hard as nails if its done properly,but its pants if its not.At least with spraying you get a relativley good job even if the sprayer isnt all that good..and paint isnt as hard to get off if the monkey has ballsed it up.
Can you tell i have had a bad powder experience.
Loads swear by it tho and they cant all be wrong

[theRuler]

rattle cans in the backyard ghetto style!!!
choke the neighbours with fumes.


lol one time me and my mate sprayed his diamond back silver streak with green spray paint IN HIS BEDROOM
that smelt bad. just sprayed straight onto the chrome. it looked good (ish)

[gmac]

My RD350LC has a powder coated frame, and so do almost all restored old bikes these days. Paint gets baked on at similar temps to powder coat anyway, and that doesn't affect any structural integrety.