Painting vs Powdercoating wheels

naddis01 · 13-08-2011, 12:03 AM

Hi guys. I have just bought another set of wheels for our car but I am thinking of painting/powdercoating them a gunmetal colour. I have done a search and read through all the threads but still have some questions.

So my question is - what is better, painting or powder coating? The car in questions occasionally drives down dirt roads so I am going to need a finish that can stand up to that. Will either finish get chipped or become dull?

Is it possible to get a shiny finish with powder coating? I was also thinking of having a metallic finish. Is this possible with powdercoating?

I am after a professional finish so I don't want to paint them myself.

How are stock wheels finished from factory? I assume they are painted?

turk · 13-08-2011, 12:41 AM

hi nads, i would go with painting if your after a hi quality finish.
If they are scaratched they can be repaired in the same colour quite easily and can be buffed and polished.
Powdercoat can look good and is quite durable, but will not stay as shiney as paint.
just my opinion. most factory wheels are painted.

ltd · 13-08-2011, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turk

hi nads, i would go with painting if your after a hi quality finish.
If they are scaratched they can be repaired in the same colour quite easily and can be buffed and polished.
Powdercoat can look good and is quite durable, but will not stay as shiney as paint.
just my opinion. most factory wheels are painted.

100% correct.
Powdercoating is good if you want solid colours like white or black, but it tends to be thick as they don't use lead in the powder in Australia anymore, so it tends to take on a chunky appearance on spokes etc. Whilst powder does look good, turk is right, it's not as durable. If you want metallic I'd go paint as well.

NAK302 · 13-08-2011, 08:15 AM

hmm, some of you fellas might get a shock about what quality powder coaters can really do. my other hobby is collecting vintage bmx bikes. some of the frames i have had powder coated because of durability. one of the requirements for identifying these frames are serial numbers and stampings, so i just get the coater to apply a thinner coat so the numbers and stampings don't get "filled". i don't know any technical things about this powder versus paint but i reckon if you go to a good powdercoater you can get some very nice results with the durability.
here's some examples:
this black has a red metallic fleck through it and looks sensational in the sun

this one is a red over chrome, a sort of candy if you like

Jim Goose · 13-08-2011, 10:19 AM

Powdercoating ISNT durable???? er um... yea.. ok...
Funny how my complete suspension which I powder coated 6yrs ago still looks good after a wash. (My diff sat in the sun for 3yrs after it was powder coated and didnt go dull and I live in north QLD)

Paint more durable? Only in bizzaro world.

Powder coating wont be as glossy as paint, but it will last longer if done correctly. Two Pac paint is very durable too however.
You can get mettalic paints in powder coating as shown above post.

ltd · 13-08-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Powdercoating ISNT durable???? er um... yea.. ok...
Funny how my complete suspension which I powder coated 6yrs ago still looks good after a wash. (My diff sat in the sun for 3yrs after it was powder coated and didnt go dull and I live in north QLD)

Paint more durable? Only in bizzaro world.

Powder coating wont be as glossy as paint, but it will last longer if done correctly. Two Pac paint is very durable too however.
You can get mettalic paints in powder coating as shown above post.

OK. Powder coating is thicker than painting yes, but it is not more durable than auto finishes. The reasons are simple, powder is applied on bare metal electrostatically, then goes into an oven at 230 degrees for around 20 minutes. Surface prep is pretty much nil save for a fairly PH neutral pre-wash.
Paint like 2 pac on the other hand is applied after a primer, sealer, base coat, top coat. The clear alone applied to 2 pac adds a protective layer to the polymer, whereas the polymer in powder is on the surface with no protective coat on top to prevent it fading.
Further, metallic finishes on powdercoating are incredibly expensive, and if not a standard colour for the powder coating company then the customer has to buy the powder to do the job. This may not be an issue to some, but special colours including deep metallics which aren't commonly used cost up to $80.00/kg. That's also based on the powder which comes in a 40kg box from either Jotun coatings or Dulux.
Now, I don't know about you, but I think if it were me and I was tossing up powder or paint, I think I'd go paint. For the usage in mind (washing, brake dust, water, fine grit, high temperatures, polish etc), paint is far more durable than powder. Unexposed to direct sunlight components and preventing rust; powder more suitable.
BTW, my dad owns a metal product factory and over the last 25 odd years, I've done work there on and off (it's paid for uni and ATPL).

BigBlue · 13-08-2011, 01:58 PM

naddis,
A lot depends on the abilities of the operator in both paining and p/c work.
The powder coating done for lawn furniture is not the same as p/c done for car wheels and with so many other things you get what you pay for.

Peter.

charlie200 · 13-08-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlue

naddis,
A lot depends on the abilities of the operator in both paining and p/c work.
The powder coating done for lawn furniture is not the same as p/c done for car wheels and with so many other things you get what you pay for.

Peter.

I did powdercoating for 10 years and it doesnt matter what you're painting,its the same process..its the prep work that is different.

turk · 13-08-2011, 05:00 PM

Gee, sorry if my opinion offended some ppl. Yeh those frames do look nice, however i dont think they are anywhere near the quality of a good 2pac job.
But thats just my opinion.
Spraypainter for 30yrs.

ACEz · 13-08-2011, 11:29 PM

I have no where near as much experience as turk^, But i race mx and because of the wear between my boot and the clutch/engine cover it rubs all the factory finish off it , so i get it powder coated all i can say is that it's definitely durable, i personally love the look. But if your going metallic maybe paint ?

TruBlu351 · 14-08-2011, 01:47 AM

I just got a set of Falcon steel rims powder coated in metallic silver and they look nice. I got a good deal at about $50/wheel including blasting beforehand.

Average quotes were about $70/ea. Some of the places I called wanted to do some kind of primer coating before the top layer.

naddis01 · 14-08-2011, 01:08 PM

Can people that have either painted or powder coated their wheels, please post some close up pics so I can see how they have been finished? How have they been standing up to stone chips etc?

atec77 · 14-08-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naddis01

Can people that have either painted or powder coated their wheels, please post some close up pics so I can see how they have been finished? How have they been standing up to stone chips etc?

Over the years I have powder coated a lot of old motorcycle wheels , pita due to the spokes but it looks better , and very difficult to touch up

Franco Cozzo · 14-08-2011, 03:43 PM

We powdercoat all our metal furniture at work, way more durable than just primer then painting we've found.

Tobey · 14-08-2011, 04:22 PM

Had my wheels painted matte black last week. Finish is great. I chose it for the price and for the ability to touch up after its been done.

Paid $180 for 4 wheels, whereas powder coating was $66 each and more for sand blasting.

In the event that its chipped, due to paint not being as thick as powder coat, its much easier to touch up.

Tobey · 14-08-2011, 04:28 PM

The only picture I have...

Scooter · 14-08-2011, 05:42 PM

Here is a pic of my B45's. Can not comment on stonechips etc. as they are not on a car yet. Plain white, looks good though.

TruBlu351 · 14-08-2011, 05:44 PM

Are they powder coated scooter?

SLO AU XR8 · 14-08-2011, 08:33 PM

My wheels are painted, and have been for 4 years. The paint on the inner is starting to come off where wheel weights have been removed.

M-Dog · 14-08-2011, 09:11 PM

Hey boys,
How is 2 pak paint vs standard painting or is the standard actually 2 pak?

M.

Tobey · 15-08-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-Dog

Hey boys,
How is 2 pak paint vs standard painting or is the standard actually 2 pak?

M.

In the automotive world 2 pack is standard. A pressure pack can from Bunnings for example, is usually just Enamel.

M-Dog · 15-08-2011, 01:43 PM

Thanks Tobey.

Road Games · 15-08-2011, 01:52 PM

Powdercoating FTW !

FgNewbie · 15-08-2011, 02:31 PM

Is this one painted or coated?

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6menace

Powdercoating FTW !

makattkd · 15-08-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FgNewbie

Is this one painted or coated?

You can definately tell its been powdercoated, but man it looks ok in my books. I'd quite happily have that finish on my wheels.

Actually a friend of mine gets his kart wheels powder coated, they come up a treat and the number of different colours they can do now is amazing.

But it does majorly come down to the prep before hand. I was actually in getting some metal cut at a fab shop a few weeks back and and stuck my head round the corner to see a guy powdercoating some stuff.. Door wide open, smoking a cigarette. It was a windy day so I don't doubt there would have been some grit in the air. Glad I wasn't getting a job done that day!

FgNewbie · 15-08-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makattkd

You can definately tell its been powdercoated....

Thanks by the missing bit or the finish?

The reason I asked... The finish on one spoke looks like something I painted. On that occassion I was told I used too much paint.

I'll stick to painting the fence.

56L · 15-08-2011, 09:29 PM

great rims
i am going to get 4 of my spare T3 5 spokes powdercoated in black,i have been quoted $100 per rim including the bead blasting

ltd · 15-08-2011, 02:59 PM

They look absolutely fantastic.
But, how will they look in a years time with all the heat cycles, weather, dirt and grit etc?

Road Games · 15-08-2011, 05:22 PM

Not sure what you are looking at newbie but the finish is faultless

Also both sets of rims had gutter rash , the PC fills the gaps, if they were to be painted in 2pac then you would need to repair them as well... the black rims were done approx 8 months before the pic of the red car was taken .. they are still mint because i remove them every 3 months and wash the back / front complete rim while detailing the Brembo's..

And so far no gutter rash either so a lesson has been learnt as well ...

naddis01 · 15-08-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6menace

Not sure what you are looking at newbie but the finish is faultless

Also both sets of rims had gutter rash , the PC fills the gaps, if they were to be painted in 2pac then you would need to repair them as well... the black rims were done approx 8 months before the pic of the red car was taken .. they are still mint because i remove them every 3 months and wash the back / front complete rim while detailing the Brembo's..

And so far no gutter rash either so a lesson has been learnt as well ...

Any idea how they would handle stone chips (esp on occassional dirt roads)? What did they set you back for prep/powder coat? Is there a clear coat on them? Have they kept their sheen?