DIY powder coating/painting alloys?

[remus]

I have some turbo fan alloys I am thinking about powder coating to use while the roads are salted.

Could anyone tell me if it's possible to buy the stuff they use to powder coat alloys, or if there is a good wheel lacquer/paint to use on them?

[alistairk]

You need proper powder coating equipment. I saw some on eBay recently but it wasn't cheap. Mind you, you could make your money back coating stuff for mates etc. I bet. Not sure what health & safety issues there are with powder coating.

[mattc]

You could get all the stuff but I imagine it would cost a far bit. You need correct brathing aparatus, and oven and special spray gun for the powder. Then how to do it correctly and then get the currently right so that the powder sticks. Why not just get them done by somebody will be loads cheaper

[Tony]

costs about £100-£150 to have them done, far cheaper than trying to buy the gear to do it yourself, will probably use that much gas in heating the oven up to bake them off LOL

[remus]

pant's I thought so I am going to refurb some alloys anyway, any idea's where i can get some wheel lacquer?

[BigbaRd]

You need proper powder coating equipment. I saw some on eBay recently but it wasn't cheap. Mind you, you could make your money back coating stuff for mates etc. I bet. Not sure what health & safety issues there are with powder coating.

yeh I came across one too whilst looking for soemthing else

to give you an idea of price:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

[remus]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WD2V

what a retard (not you big) look at that. Same kit only costs like £36 prolly about £80 with postage from the US.

[dafz]

In the states you can get a cheap kit that needs no air compressor. You get the transformer and you buy aerosol cans full of the powder and you just spray. I'll try and find the link...

[BigbaRd]

That the kind of thing you mean:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...0&r=2013&g=103

same thing you use with airbrush's if you don't have a compressor

Air Brush Propellant (500ml)

[remus]

Can I just use like car paint on them? Or isnt the finish tough enough (i've been told it isnt hard enough).

[evomaster3000]

Yeah, i just use normal paint and laquer, works fine and if you put enough laquer on is a good finish - very tough!

[remus]

where abouts can I get the lacquer?

[BigbaRd]

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQgotopa...sortpropertyZ1

ask mark on their anything will help you out!

got all my paint and everything from him, theirs an auction for a few litres of laquer for a spray gun set-up but i'm pretty sure he can mix it up into aerosols for you!! (need 3-4)

good quality stuff

[remus]

sounds good i have 2 spray gun set ups.

[alistairk]

suddenly I'm tempted to buy one of those powder coaters...

In fact I'm tempted to buy a few and eBay them over here!

[alistairk]

Quote: "Buyer to pay fixed shipping cost of: $67.95 (United Kingdom-England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand Only) Items will be shipped via USPS Airmail Parcel or Letter Post (4-10 Days Delivery). Please see below for other options and information."

I really like US eBayers who bother to include UK shipping on their auctions. Might root through some of his other stuff too...

I have a load of chassis resto and detail to do and this would be far better than using Smoothrite and probably work out cheaper than shipping everything out for powdercoating...

Good find there remus. I might owe you a pint.

[Haynzee]

2 pack is harder wearing than powdercoat imo

[alistairk]

I've heard that said as well. Theres proponents of both. But so I am told...

Powdercoat gives better rust resistance because of the way its bonded on
Powdercoat is more flexible (thus better for springs etc)
powdercoat offers better resistance to certain salts and corrosives (brake fluid, etc)
powdercoat offers better adhesion under high heat situations

Anyone with good technical know how want to debate these? Paging Mike007....

[NickWebb]

it depends what finish you are after but you could use those cans of plasticote paint that you can buy from halfords

[alistairk]

Plastikote's not bad stuff I've used it before but it would get quite expensive to use it on large jobs and I dunno how well it holds up if you used it on say road springs, exhaust manifolds etc.

[NickWebb]

you could do a set of alloys out of 1 can

[alistairk]

OK looking into this the problems with it are:

1. Extraction and filtration: the powder goes everywhere and sticks to anything which is earthed - ie the floor, anything on the floor, you, etc.

2. Buying the powder: who will sell small quantities to the home DIY user?

3. Baking: its a thermoset process so you need to be able to bake your coated parts at 200 degrees and it gives off evil posionous fumes while its baking. An old pottery kiln will do if you can get hold of one.

So not quite as easy as it at first appears.

[BigbaRd]

hehe, think you may have to go get friendly with the local art college an use their pottery kiln, my one used to let me use all the garage tools so u may be lucky. Stick to paints, less hassle took me 2 cans of motorworld 6 quid stuff to spray a roof-racked damaged spoiler.

[NickWebb]

you could do a set of alloys out of 1 can

i forgot to say thats plasticote shiny black on those alloys, i only used 1 can and i think i cost about £6

[Colonel K]

THREAD HIJACK

I remember on an old DIY wheel refurb thread about using Etch Primer? Anyone know where to get this stuff in spray cans?

Been Refurbing Wheels