Steel Frame: Paint or Powder Coating?

Hi guys,

it's been a while since I was here, so I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm about to begin restoring my V4 and I was wondering if people who did restore their bikes had the frame repainted or powder coated. Any input will be appreciated.

St�phane

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.

Powdercoating is the way to go from a person who worked at a powdercoating shop for three years. Powdercoating is more durable than paint. Every color has its own chacteristic though. Some colors require a clear coat because they are not uv stable and some are more durable to scratches then others. If you have any questions about the process or want suggestions feel free to ask.

:worthlesswithoutpics:


Who are you again?

:laughing6-hehe:

C

PS Good to see that you're starting early so that you can join us on the Nelson run in August... :biggrin:

Powdercoating is the way to go from a person who worked at a powdercoating shop for three years. Powdercoating is more durable than paint. Every color has its own chacteristic though. Some colors require a clear coat because they are not uv stable and some are more durable to scratches then others. If you have any questions about the process or want suggestions feel free to ask.

Well, I do have a question, do I need to have bolts in all the threads and do I need to remove all bearing caps?

Thanks!

Hey potty mouth, I'll put picture when I begin to actually work on it, which should happen as soon as I sell a couple of bikes.

Cheers!

Powdercoating is the way to go from a person who worked at a powdercoating shop for three years. Powdercoating is more durable than paint. Every color has its own chacteristic though. Some colors require a clear coat because they are not uv stable and some are more durable to scratches then others. If you have any questions about the process or want suggestions feel free to ask.

Well, I do have a question, do I need to have bolts in all the threads and do I need to remove all bearing caps?

Thanks!

Hey potty mouth, I'll put picture when I begin to actually work on it, which should happen as soon as I sell a couple of bikes.

Cheers!

A couple?!? Just how many do you store in your garage?!?

C

Powdercoating is the way to go from a person who worked at a powdercoating shop for three years. Powdercoating is more durable than paint. Every color has its own chacteristic though. Some colors require a clear coat because they are not uv stable and some are more durable to scratches then others. If you have any questions about the process or want suggestions feel free to ask.

Well, I do have a question, do I need to have bolts in all the threads and do I need to remove all bearing caps?

Thanks!

Hey potty mouth, I'll put picture when I begin to actually work on it, which should happen as soon as I sell a couple of bikes.

Cheers!

The powder coating shop should have a variety of silicone plugs to mask threaded holes, so you only need to give them your bolts if you want those coated as well. And for threaded bolts that stick out of a frame there is a special tape for masking those as well. The frame needs to be stripped down because it will need to be sand blasted and anything not metal will melt when it is placed in the oven to cure at 400 to 500 degrees. We usually asked people to have bearings removed before bringing in the part but have coated parts with it still in. It just burns the grease out of the bearing. If the cap is plastic or rubber take it off.

Since this is the first time someone has brought up something I actually know about I thought I would throw in some pics of a few past jobs. Lots of people think powder coating only comes in industrial colors but that isn't the case.

Attached Images

• [image: block.jpg]
• [image: blackred wheel.jpg]
• [image: vwdub wheels.jpg]
• [image: vulcan.jpg]
• [image: valve covers.jpg]
• [image: gate.jpg]
• [image: chess.jpg]

My 750F frame is powdercoated satin black, are the swingarm and wheels(white) and upper triple. Anything that can be damaged by heat needs to be removed, and, you'll want to pick up a tap & die set that covers all the fastener sizes on the parts to be coated.

I have yet to receive any parts back from coating that didn't need to have the threads cleaned up. For the larger swingarm bolt threads, bearing cups, etc, I utilize a wire wheel on my Dremel to get in those areas.

[image: Posted Image]

[image: Posted Image]

My 750F frame is powdercoated satin black, are the swingarm and wheels(white) and upper triple. Anything that can be damaged by heat needs to be removed, and, you'll want to pick up a tap & die set that covers all the fastener sizes on the parts to be coated.

I have yet to receive any parts back from coating that didn't need to have the threads cleaned up. For the larger swingarm bolt threads, bearing cups, etc, I utilize a wire wheel on my Dremel to get in those areas.

[image: Posted Image]

[image: Posted Image]

Well every shop is different I guess. I'll admit we would get some stuff that we had no idea what it was or how pieces fit together and sometimes didn't mask something correctly, but not plugging threaded holes is just lazy IMHO. If you are paying $250 and up to get this done why should you have to buy/rent extra tools to clean it up yourself?

Powdercoating is more durable than paint....Every color has its own chacteristic though.

Painter I have used locally says straight paint in general is about 60% as durable as powdercoating.