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Frame Painting is Powder Coating best?

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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.  :)

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