Frame Painting is Powder Coating best?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I understand the benefits of powder coating in terms of more paint on edges where the electrical charge attracts extra paint particles but what is this best way to restore your frame?

Assuming you do not have your own powder coating large oven etc is Powder Coating actually the best way to go?
I see the benefits if its done by a good firm - no doubt they will strip the frame etc so not much preparation involved for the customer aside from the initial strip down aspect.

What happens when you damage the finish is there a way of touching up that works?
I'm not a purist so the fact that the technology was probably not around means its not an original finish but who cares if its the best.

Is everyone on sohc a Powder Coater convert?

[royhall]

I usually have frames powder coated by a local firm but am changing my mind about it. As you say it is the easy route from the builders point of view but there are problems. The coating is often too thick in places that matter, it's difficult to mask off areas that don't need/want coating due to the heat used.

Then the big problem is cracking and flaking in any areas that flex. A good example of that is the main and side stands, I have yet to manage to keep the coating on any of them to the point where I am going to remove them all and have them painted in two pack. Luckily so far the actual frames have been okay.

So to answer the question, no I don't think powder coating is the way to go. I wish I hadn't found this out from experience as I now have a bit of work to remedy the situation.

[K2-K6]

I'd certainly not argue with your experience Roy, and what a pain to get them sorted out for you too.

I have seen that it can be very variable in quality and coating thickness though. My lad is into mountain bikes currently and more specifically Orange that are made in Halifax.  They powder coat theirs of which we have a few dating from 2003 onward and you can see the coating gets thinner on later frames, to the point on latest we own where it's just about covered. 

They where made for downhill racing and stated weight is one of the things they are acutely aware of. 

https://youtu.be/mlIYEdRFQu4 funny bit in here about powder coating from about 13 minutes.

It does seem resilient as the frame can flex quite a bit,  but on these ones you can see all the structural welding it's that thin.

Went to a local powder coaters for another frame lad is building to see what they offer,  he showed me work there that's some of the finest (in terms of finish and thickness) that I've seen,  it was an old steel schwinn bicycle with detailed frame joints.

He seemed particularly proud of customer's sample and clearly new what he was after. Certainly the outcome seems variable as I've seem some poor (in terms of slathering it on) work others have had done.

Could be worth seeing what you have locallaly for the OP  and discussion of outcome to assess what you can get.

[Tomb]

I've just had a frame/swing arm and all the rest of the black parts powder coated local to me, its the first time I have had it done by someone else as I usually do my own powder coating. I'm really underwhelmed by the quality, it has pock marks, its too thick to the point of have runs, which with powder coating shouldn't be possible if done right.

Industrial powder coaters preheat then spray the powder on, so it melts as its going on, which means they can keep putting (too much) more on. The coating I do is cold static charged meaning you can spray as much as you want but only what is held on with the charge stays on, then heated to melt on and flow out.

I now have drips I'll have to file off and sand/cut back on the top yoke and other visible parts

I too seriously thought about painting the parts but am on a schedule to get this bike back to its owner, were it mine, defo paint.

[K2-K6]

The sample frame I looked at was with a very slight metallic and semi-matt finish. It was exquisitely good with ultra fine finish which I guess is like anything else, in that someone that knows what they are doing and has the means to carry it out, will be invaluable to you.

I've seen them ae you indicate Tomb, looking very much like liquorice. 

[Nurse Julie]

To be honest, anything is better than the thin see through paint Hondas came from the factory with in that era.
We have all ours powder coated, but we trust our powder coater 100% to do a perfect job. He is local to us in Lincs and a good friend. We had one done at a coaters in Castleford 5 years ago ( just after we moved up here and hadn't found what is now our regular powder coater) and that was not a particularly good job. Luckily it was on a frame for a bitsa mongrel hack, so it wasn't a disaster.

[royhall]

I should add to my previous comment that all my frames are okay it's really just the stands that are a problem. They appear to flex beyond what the coating can take and bits peel off. Will post some photos when other home. Two pack paint is a little more flexible and would be better in that area. I do like the fact that you can drop a scabby frame at the coaters and it comes back like new though. Lazy sod eh.

[UK Pete]

If done properly by a place that knows motorbikes it is the best, all paint can crack when flexed , not just powder coating, I had a gpz550 frame done and it's perfect, my warning would be dont get it done by places that just put it through with all their commercial stuff, find a place who know motorbike frames and specialize,  its regarded as a bit of a no for detailed restorations as then people want to replicate that thin, jet black honda look, me personally would do anything g other than a concourse restoration  with powder coat, it is so durable, chip resistant and cheap

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Thank Guys tbh the responses sort of flagged up some of my fears. My brother has had dozens of pedal cycle frames powder coated never had a flexing issue so that was an interesting point raised about stands. There is a very good firm in Bot area that my BiL uses - he is a friend of the owners so that helps.
I assume there no touching in option with powder coating?

[Laverda Dave]

I agree with all the comments. I will add though that you get what you pay for. I agree with UK Pete, use a company who know how to powder coat motorcycle frames and not just garden gates and table legs!
Also make sure that if the powder coater strips the frame of previous paint they powder coat the frame straight after and not leave it hanging around for days as bare metal attracts rust and this will affect the powder coat adhesion.
I had a couple of ding marks on a powder coated frame and used Hammerite brush enamel in the damaged areas. I just touched it in, the paint being thick coated the ding nicely and when dry was hardly noticed. The surrounding powder coat didn't lift over time either.

[smoothoperator]

I'm still on the fence with this decision. I enjoy spraying paint on stuff and even the prep, so I suppose that's my default position. Also I'm in this to fill the hours since I retired rather than have someone else do it for me and have it done quickly. That said, I am interested in ball park figures for the cost of powder coating vs DIY spraying with rattle cans. My guess is that powder coating has a wide price range, given that there is a wide range of quality of outcome as described above.

[SumpMagnet]

I think it really comes down to personal preference.

I prefer paint to powder coat.

With any process though, preperation is the key, and the better the prep...the better the finish.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I've just revisited this thread whilst I ponder on the decision between powder coating & doing it myself with rattle cans.

Right up until yesterday it was going to be powder coated but presently my mind is 70/30 in favour of painting it myself.

Having seen how small the frame actually is and the relatively rust free status has nudged me away from powder coating.
A few hours flatting with wet & dry might just be the ticket to productively spend lock down time in my retirement.

[Johnny4428]

I have always gone for paint in the past, but this time I have gone for powder coating. Basically everything that is black is going to be powder coated. I have received most of the items back and I must say I am impressed with the finish. Haven’t got the frame back yet or the bottom yoke which I had to replace. I haven’t had a problem with any bits that I painted in the past but maybe just got lazy.😄

[SteveW]

Can I ask what do you do with the riveted on vin plate when you paint / powder coat?

It must be almost impossible to remove without marking the plate.