Paint or Powdercoat?

Coogie

Hi
I need to redo my hardtail frame. Which is the better option, paint or powder coat?

I will want to re add decals, then clear laquer is guess...?

Thx

ricardo_smooth

powdercoat is more durable and yes decals then laquer

turnerjohn

you wont be able to add decals then powder coat lacquer over (I was told when I had my Intense resprayed) as the powdercoating needs to be oven cured and hense would melt the decals.

Clank

The only reason for choosing powercoating is it's quicker and cheaper than a respray.

If the paint is done correctly, it should be a lot tougher.

Gibson44

Powder coating is in general a more durable coating than most wet paint finishes and easier/cheaper to apply. The down side being less colour options than wet paint and slight scuffs wont polish out. You can apply the graphics after curing the powder and then laquer over with a 2 pack wet paint laquer.
If it was my bike i would go for a 2 pack wet paint finish, then apply graphics, then 4 or 5 coats of 2 pack clear laquer. Dont be put off wet paint because people say powder is harder/more durable. Modern 2 pack paint systems are very good and just as durable as powder. Also wet paint when applied properly will have a smoother finish(less orange peel) and a better gloss level than powder.
Steve G (Paint Nerd)

GT_Dave

I am in the process of having mt HT Frame painted, I managed to get it done for £50 by agreeing that there was no rush and the bloke would do it in his spare time, the only bad point is the fella doesnt seem to have any spare time and ive now been waiting two months!!!! On the plus side its giving me more time to save to buy the parts that I want even though this was supposed to be a budget build for a cheap commuter!

miss notax

Gibson44 wrote:

Powder coating is in general a more durable coating than most wet paint finishes and easier/cheaper to apply. The down side being less colour options than wet paint and slight scuffs wont polish out. You can apply the graphics after curing the powder and then laquer over with a 2 pack wet paint laquer.
If it was my bike i would go for a 2 pack wet paint finish, then apply graphics, then 4 or 5 coats of 2 pack clear laquer. Dont be put off wet paint because people say powder is harder/more durable. Modern 2 pack paint systems are very good and just as durable as powder. Also wet paint when applied properly will have a smoother finish(less orange peel) and a better gloss level than powder.
Steve G (Paint Nerd)

Phew. Glad to read this as my frame has just been painted

DCR00

whats a two pack paint system ?

ilish0704

Dont be put off wet paint because people say powder is harder/more durable. Modern 2 pack paint systems are very good and just as durable as powder.

gtvlusso

After having both wet paint and powder coat: Poweder coat is more durable. 2 pack paint still chips wasilty with shapr stones - powder coat doesn't.

Powder coat is generally cheaper too - RPA in Bristol will do frame and forks for £65.

Clank

DCR00 wrote:

whats a two pack paint system ?

A bit like a 2-pack adhesive (like araldite, for instance) - there's a resin component and a seperate hardener - mix the two and apply.

They can be based on a very broad range of polymer systems (epoxies, acryllic, PU etc).

And I still say a good paint system will exceed the durability performance of powder coating.

mar_k

"2pack is also quite poisioness so make sure you use it in a well ventalated area

Anonymous

Raw

Skipsey

in my experiance with powdercoating (which is with cars not bikes) once the poweder coat gets chipped 9/10 its going to start cracking/peeling. paint wont do this if its been applied correctly. for that 1 reason i would always paint over powdercoat.

1mancity2

Clank wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

whats a two pack paint system ?

A bit like a 2-pack adhesive (like araldite, for instance) - there's a resin component and a seperate hardener - mix the two and apply.

They can be based on a very broad range of polymer systems (epoxies, acryllic, PU etc).

And I still say a good paint system will exceed the durability performance of powder coating.

If you sprayed an identical componet in Polyester powder and the other in 2 pack polyurethane paint, the paint will out perform the powder.

There are harder wearing powders but they are usually high build epoxy based which won't be as practical on a bike frame.

If you go done the 2pack epoxy primer followed by 2 pack polyurethane top coat then 2 pack lacquer this will give a very durable finish that will perform better than a powder.

compositepro

nylon powder coat

its the only way to be sure

http://www.batchglow.co.uk/index.html

Anonymous

Bacon

compositepro

http://www.baconnaise.com/