Powder Coating, Where?

sdalby

I have a Rock Lobster 853 from Merlin that is in desperate need of a new coat.

Where is best for bike specific powder coating? Mercian cycles seem very very professional but unfortunately they only do stove enameling which I don't want.

I want somewhere bike specific so I don't have to worry about re-threading and re-facing etc.

I'm sure this had come up before, but I keep searching and keep going around in circles.

Any help would be appreciated.

paul.skibum

These guys used to specialise in powder coating bikes - dont seem to have the same level of info on their site any more though - http://www.windridge.co.uk/content.php/440

Northwind

Mate of mine just got his back from Argos, lovely job and absolutely flawless prep. Personally I'd probably go to Triple S but I've never had a pushiron done there, just motorbike bits- always spot on.

Kaise

+1 for Argos Cycles in bristol, top job everytime!

1mancity2

Any decent powder coater will mask your threads and faces, just make sure you point out what you require and ask them to use heat resistant masking tape not normal masking tape that way there is no adhesive residue left behind.

Also I would ask them to apply a coat of rust protection before coating (Kephos)

santahul

sdalby: Where are you? Since you're talking about Mercian can I assume you're near Derby? There's a place in the city called Derwent Enamellers which I've had recommended to me, although I haven't used them yet. Spoken to them via email and they seem quite friendly. Something like £45 for shot blasting, zinc dipping and painting. Only problem there's a limited range of colours although they can sort something out for you at extra cost I believe.

As for Argos, I'm not sure they do powder coating do they? I used them for a Zaskar frame and tbh the results weren't that good. Not only did it chip very easily, there was a few drip marks and the frame had a strange rattle like some kind of loose residue was left over within the frame. Maybe I was unlucky but I'll use somebody else next time.

1mancity2

SantaHul wrote:

sdalby:Something like £45 for shot blasting, zinc dipping and painting. Only problem there's a limited range of colours although they can sort something out for you at extra cost I believe.

45 quid? that is cheap, you will always have a limited colour range unless your prepared to pay for the powder they don't stock.

Around 60 dollars for special effects like candys, pearls, etc.

so with your coating cost your looking top side of 100 quid for a special.

paul.skibum

I enquired at a local powdercoat place I found in the yellow pages - they quoted me around 50 notes to clean old frame and powdercoat as long as it was a colour they had in stock. I guess if you got picky about threads and so on they might up that a bit. Worth looking about though.

I believe Argos is paint not powder coat - I bought a professionally resprayed frame and the finish is good generally but the paint is flimsy around bolts and so on.

1mancity2

Powder is naturally thicker and not as flexiable at a pain system, It will chip, it will crack around bolts etc.

As a general rule the thicker the powder goes on the easier it chips, one coat systems would be around 40-60microns thick.

Most candys etc require a reflective base coat so they are more prone to chips, saying that I did my old trance in a candy blue and it never chipped also got stopped everywere I went and asked "who painted your frame".

If you want a special have a look on www.powderbuythepound.com
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