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Your powdercoater will know best. But I had mine sandblasted and then completely coated. The powder doesn't really add any noticeable thickness. No issues putting grips on.
In most cases, production bars that are PC'd are bare at the ends and at the knurled center. I have to imagine that there is a reason that most bars are made like this and I would personally follow those examples, trusting that the folks who make the things have done their homework.
If your chrome is in good shape then blasting them is not completely necessary. Now I am sure that I am going to catch a lot of hell from people for saying this but at least hear me out first!
I have had a number of parts powder coated for my XBones, all of which were chrome and all stock HD parts. I was told by the place that does my stuff that unless there is pitting, rust or other imperfections the PC can go right over the chrome after a good sanding and prep. After some thought I decided to let them do it and to my satisfaction, everything has turned out great. All the parts came out looking great and have continued to look that way under all conditions. I can't tell any difference from the parts I had done and the parts that were already PC'd on my bike from the MOCO. I ended up saving a ton of money this way...which may or may not be a priority for you as it is for me.
Do like I did and call different places. I sent them photos by email so they could all see the stuff and give me a better opinion without me spending and entire day driving all over town. So far, I am happy with the results I have gotten.
In most cases, production bars that are PC'd are bare at the ends and at the knurled center. I have to imagine that there is a reason that most bars are made like this and I would personally follow those examples, trusting that the folks who make the things have done their homework.
If your chrome is in good shape then blasting them is not completely necessary. Now I am sure that I am going to catch a lot of hell from people for saying this but at least hear me out first!
I have had a number of parts powder coated for my XBones, all of which were chrome and all stock HD parts. I was told by the place that does my stuff that unless there is pitting, rust or other imperfections the PC can go right over the chrome after a good sanding and prep. After some thought I decided to let them do it and to my satisfaction, everything has turned out great. All the parts came out looking great and have continued to look that way under all conditions. I can't tell any difference from the parts I had done and the parts that were already PC'd on my bike from the MOCO. I ended up saving a ton of money this way...which may or may not be a priority for you as it is for me.
Do like I did and call different places. I sent them photos by email so they could all see the stuff and give me a better opinion without me spending and entire day driving all over town. So far, I am happy with the results I have gotten.
you are absolutely correct. i have powdercoated many parts, both for myself and my friends, that still have the chrome on and as long as the chrome is good quality there aren't any issues whatsoever.
Thanks for the tips, I'll bring it up to the powdercoaters. I'm trying a new little place in Vegas. I already emailed them a couple times and they'll blast/prep and coat bars for $40. Doesn't sound too shabby. The bars were essentially free, so I'll give the powder guys a trial run and see if they're worth coming back too.
Like Skeezmachine said if it is a real good quality chrome then you might not need to sandblast it. I took a set of HD chrome highway pegs to get powder coated and they blasted them but after they finished they said that they really didn't need to sandblast them. Let your powder coater look at them and decide.
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