To powder coat or paint...?

Ted Hamilton · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject:

Just had my frame sandblasted at a local monument (funeral headstone) company. (Many aren't aware that they do such things, but mine was open to an "odd" project) Cost was $75.

I then took it to my local powdercoater who will do it for $75.

Last frame I took to an all-in-one shop an hour away and the total was $140. I just didn't feel like driving an hour this time...

$200 just for powdercoat seems a bit high just for the coating...
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Stanley Morgan · Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 25

If you get it sand blasted, my wife took a course at the community college, and says she would be happy to paint it for free. She recommends "vintage tuscany brick entangled in vines and a tomatoes". What ever that means?

Stan

Don Guilbeault · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject: powder coat

Ken, I have heard DR Kart red will make it faster.
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Don Guilbeault · Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:41 pm Post subject: powder coat

Ken, Then add a DRT/Brian Fisher power plant and your really fast!!
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www.drt-racing.com
DR Racing Kart
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Hoosier Tires
MG tires
Fisher Racing Engines
Hegar Drive

joseph hollinger · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:22 am Post subject:

Ken Schilling · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 1341

I've done some additional calling around at SoCal powdercoaters and the lowest price I've found for just the powdercoating is $110 for a solid color and $180 for a candy color.

So, the total will run $190 - $260 (chem strip - $80).
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Tim Doll · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject:

Definitely agree that powder coat is far more durable than any paint job.

However, I've had a chassis builder tell me that the elevated temperature needed to 'bake' a powder coat would mess with the heat treat of the chassis material. I was sceptical and checked with a materials expert at Boeing (one of the neat things about working at Boeing is you can find experts in many, many areas - most of which are more than happy to lend their expertise even if its not work related). His feedback was the ~400 deg F temp that they baked a powder coat at wouldn't affect the 1040 and similar alloys that are normally used for kart frames.

That being said - if they offered to 'bake' it at a lower temp than normal - I'd probably take them up on the offer, especially if there wasn't a significant cost impact.

Tim
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Robert Brooks · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject:

I've had numerous frames dipped and powder coated, I've never noticed any impact to handling. Last time (2 yrs ago) the entire process cost me $125. Don't over think it....
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Chris Pacitto · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:00 pm Post subject:

I am an amateur powder coater (I do lots of small parts in my garage). A rough finish on the metal part (i.e., sandblasting) promotes adhesion of the powder to the metal.

Powder coating is a bitch to sandblast off. Chemical stripping is by far the easiest/fastest way to go. After thorough chemical stripping, a light to medium sand blast will remove any remaining powder in tight spots and texture the material.

Steel is normally heat treated at much higher temperatures and longer times than the 400f for 20 min required to cure (most) powder.

While you're at it, get your wheels powder coated to match Cool

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:27 pm Post subject:

Went out to start pricing stripping/powdercoating here in NorCal for the 2 used frames I'm buying. No one up here does chemical stripping, (EPA sucks) and one shop told me to go to Home Depot and grab a can of JASCO paint remover. Media blasting only @ $80-$90 hr. I visited 4 shops, with another one I'll visit tomorrow. Stripping the chassis: $120-$150 each, which is where the JASCO might come in handy, removing a major portion of the time required to strip. Powdercoating: @$250 each, although one shop said if I brought them both chassis at the same time, same color, $175 each. Shocked

In the words of Sammy Davis, Jr. "Ouch man, and I mean that!" Guess I better keep looking...
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joseph hollinger · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject:

Mine cost me $350 and I had already stripped it.
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Kerry Matthews · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject:

We have a winner!!!! Went to the last shop on my list, (and one that was recommended as being reasonable on price) and he quoted me $125 a frame. Now, with a little elbow grease, and maybe a little JASCO, (let's see how the utility knife works first) I can get the stripping fees down to $50 or less. THAT I can live with...
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Jeff DeMello · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject:

joseph hollinger · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:38 pm Post subject:

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:31 pm Post subject:

I came home to find a PM from my friend Dave, who works at a powdercoater. He wants to know if he's chopped liver... So I guess I CAN find a good price to get these done. Embarassed

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