powder coating vs paint job

[cts]

what do you think guys???...

here in greece i havent found the ducati red color for the frame in powder coating so i leaning towards paint job...

heeeelp!

[flynbulldog]

Powder coating and paint are nearly identical in composition with the main difference being the type of application and the lack of a solvent in powder.

The big advantage in powder is that the application is very environmentally friendly where paint is nasty to the environment with overspray and solvents to discard.

A really good powder coater can mix colors and get you an exact match. He can also create an almost paint-like finish.

A bad powder coater doesn't match colors, will get the material on too thick, and finish with a semi-dull orange peel surface.
Most powder coaters fall into this category.

It's misleading to say that powder coat is more durable than paint. Most coatings are much thicker than paint so it does resist chipping slightly better but with todays clear paint systems paint resists surface scuffing and dulling much better than powder finishes. Both powder and paint applied in equal thickness resist chipping equally (given proper surface prep).

Because powder is applied by electrostatic charge coverage is more uniform and on complex parts such as a frame you stand a better chance of having better coverage.
With paint the coverage is fully in the hands of the painter.

Finish is where the two systems really stand apart. Paint done by a good craftsman almost always has a smoother more glossy finish than powder.
I say almost because there are a handful of extremely talented powder coaters that can achieve a paint-like finish.

For me a good quality paint job is much better than powder coat on almost any part. The finish and resistance to dulling make paint my own first choice.

But the results, as usual, are dependent on the person doing the job. There are good and bad at both.
If your powder coater can't match colors there's a good chance that he isn't going to give you a finish equal to paint

[flynbulldog]

Here's how I would judge a powder coater:

If you walk in the door and they're doing a bunch of iron railings and lawn furniture, turn around and walk back out.

But if you walk in and they're doing multi-colored two or three stage custom auto parts or bicycles, sit down and have a chat.

Better yet, just go with paint ...

[FlyingQ]

Touch-up and small finish repairs are more easily accomplished with painted finishes. Generally speaking, powder coating is a harder, maybe more durable, finish. For most items, I prefer paint and clear coat finishes.

[flynbulldog]

Originally Posted by FlyingQ

Generally speaking, powder coating is a harder, maybe more durable, finish.

No, sorry, that's a common misconception created by marketing. Powder coat is no harder than paint, it may be applied thicker making it less prone to chips but as powder gets thicker the finish gets worse. The best powder coat jobs are very very thin.

[cts]

omg...i am almost sure i cant get such a good powder coater here in greece...
and some of my friends that have done powder coating, after 4-5 years the paint chips away...

the thing is that i have painted rims some years ago and the paint got some small marks from rocks etc that the stock rims would never have... thats why i am thinking about powder coating...if i get the bike back together and (since i use it more on the track) after some trackdays the frames gets all marks and scratches the only option i will have is to hit my head on the wall! :-P

[flynbulldog]

Originally Posted by cts

omg...i am almost sure i cant get such a good powder coater here in greece...
and some of my friends that have done powder coating, after 4-5 years the paint chips away...

the thing is that i have painted rims some years ago and the paint got some small marks from rocks etc that the stock rims would never have... thats why i am thinking about powder coating...if i get the bike back together and (since i use it more on the track) after some trackdays the frames gets all marks and scratches the only option i will have is to hit my head on the wall! :-P

how about some truck bed-liner Christos?

[Sagaris]

I would echo Flyn on this one, I have seen so many powdercoat finishes that turn into something similar to a snake shedding its skin.

[cts]

yet many on this forum have powder coated their frame red. or am i mistaken???

let the owners speak!!!

[ttpete]

I like DuPont Imron. I've had frames done with it, and they've been bulletproof. It's a system, though. Requires a specific primer.