Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 889
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From: Orange County, CA
Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
What options are there to black out the engine guards (rather than buying the gloss black HD ones- rip off)? I know I can send them out to be powder coated black, but could I also just paint them black? What are the pros and cons of painting? What type of prep work would the paint require or could I paint right over them? What about the durability of the paint?
Powder Coating doesn't look very expensive so if there is no big cost advantage to go with paint then I'll probably just send them out to be coated. Anyone recommend a powder coater in the S.E. Michigan area? I found one in Wisconsin that looks to have reasonable prices.
Powder Coating doesn't look very expensive so if there is no big cost advantage to go with paint then I'll probably just send them out to be coated. Anyone recommend a powder coater in the S.E. Michigan area? I found one in Wisconsin that looks to have reasonable prices.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Santa Maria di Camisano, Italy
RE: Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
Powder coat is much tougher, that's why frames are generally powder coated now days. Back in the day when dudes threw together junk frames and built their own bikes you'd see them running around So. Cal. where I grew up with yellow spots on the frames from the anti-rust spray they had to cover the dings up with.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 456
Likes: 1
From: Blacksburg, VA
RE: Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
You'll find a variation of opinions on paint vs. powder. Lately, I've been painting my black parts, and have had better luck with that. Used to powder was a lot cheaper. Now days it's just about as much to powder something as it is chrome. At least it is here in VA. Go out and buy you a new set of HD lower fork legs. Think they will be powder coated? Think again, HD paints the lower legs. I've got a black crash bar on one of my bikes. I cleared it with the DuPont DCU85 (I think). It's a very hard and durable clear coat. No scratches or chips yet. Another pro to paint is you can just touch it up once you do get the inevitable chip in it. Powder, not as easy to match up.
Just my $.02
Just my $.02
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 837
From: KMHT KFMY
RE: Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
the only down side to powder coating is the temps they use to bake it. You have to watch the material you are coating and make sure you do not change the metalurgical structure (annealing for example) by heating it up.
the upside is it is ALMOST bulletproof
the upside is it is ALMOST bulletproof
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
From: NC, and a stone throw away from SC
RE: Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
I've used painted and powder parts on my bike................If painting chrome pieces, make sure an etcher is used to eat at the chrome prior to painting. I use powder in areas that are prone to rock chips and paint in the other areas. One other thing to consider is the heat with powder coating, plastic chrome parts will have to be painted (Inserts and such), paint will hold up fine unless its in an area where wrenching is involved. Paint actually gives a better finished product, but like everyone else said, powder will be much more durable.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Rome, Italy
RE: Powder Coating vs. Black Paint?
I just got all my chrome parts (including mufflers) powder coated black. Like Topper said "Paint actually gives a better finished product, but like everyone else said, powder will be much more durable." I noticed that some of the parts don't have a very "smooth" looking effect, but rather an "orange peal (thats what they call it in Italy)" effect such as on the paint of certain cars. Is this normal or did they just do a crap job on mine? Yesteday i was trying to pass between a parked car and one stopped in traffic and i brushed the left motor gaurd against the parked car's bumper and unfortunately some of the paint rubbed of (i was hoping that powder coat would resiste to anything 
Thanks, Cris
Thanks, Cris
