Powdercoating wheels to black

[Garageaholic]

I am going to powdercoat my spokes to black. They are J-line wheels and are a clear polish coating. NOT CHROME, despite what the pictures look like.

The guy who is going to do it said that i'm taking a big chance with it because when he bakes the clear coat on, the 400F oven will make the clear coat on the lip bubble because general clear coat paint can't take the heat..

Is this true? What can be done about it...

[Garageaholic]

[browntown]

Don't want to spread misinformation but everything I've always read says if they're aluminum dont powdercoat, paint due to aluminum cracking (sometimes you cant see it)



clear as mud: http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.c...=151053&page=8

[Garageaholic]

Wow, yeah i think that they're aluminum, or they wouldnt' be so damn light.

[cactusjacks1]

It depends on what the current "clear polish" coating is - -
If it's spray clear, wont work!! Very few wheel refinishers/powder coaters
can do a clear powder coat over a paint base coat & do it correctly -- you end up with flaws as the paint base coat can't take the heat when they bake the clear coat over it. The heat drives off more solvents from the paint, that causes the blems as they can't get out through the clear powdercoat when it's baking.

If your wheel is raw alluminum buffed to a shine then it should't be a problem.
They need to be cleaned so the powdercoat has something to stick to, then he just does it in 2 steps - one to do the black & one to do the clear.

[2002maniac]

Contact J-line. Most wheels are powdercoated in the factory.

[SoCal Life]

The wheels will be fine! It's only on cheap cast Aluminum that you need to worry. I powder coated my SSR GT3's Matte Black for my B5 S4, and they came out Sic!!

Oh, and you have to have the clear coat sanded off and then have the wheels repolished or they will get jacked up. Only thing is that once you do that, you have to constantly polish and clean your wheels to keep them from getting spots. Worth it in my opinion!

[SchnellerVert]

Depends also on the shops expertise. I use a shop that does powdercoationg on stuff for Sikorsky helicopters so they know how much heat to use while baking them.

[SoCal Life]

Sikorsky sucks!! Boeing rules!! Just playing. I was a Helicopter Crew Chief on CH-46E's(Boeing) for the USMC.

Depends also on the shops expertise. I use a shop that does powdercoationg on stuff for Sikorsky helicopters so they know how much heat to use while baking them.

Back on topic: This is true. If you get them done at a place that usually does basic metel powder coating, ie... Fences, gates, and other industrial products, you are really taking a chance. Because they are use to working on raw steel industrial products that have little consiquence if they crack.

The place that did my wheels powder coats $70k Sand Rails, so they knew what they were doing. I would highly suggest finding a place like that, instead of an intusdrial P/C shop.

Good Luck

[Garageaholic]

Sikorsky sucks!! Boeing rules!! Just playing. I was a Helicopter Crew Chief on CH-46E's(Boeing) for the USMC.

Forget boeing or sikorsky... Lockheed is champ here.. lol i'm working on the A10, which i like. lol oh well. Thanx for the help guys. I'll see and shop around to see what the going rate is for stuff like this... i'm thinking like $60/wheel...