frame finishes

felix.london

One for the weight weenies;

Would an anodized frame weigh less then the same frame with a powder coat?

If so by how much?

cooldad

Yes, about 4 inches.

Holyzeus

Yes, first google result says 100g

bennett_346

Because the first google result is always correct, yep.

felix.london

Holyzeus wrote:

Yes, first google result says 100g

Kinda why I asked.

100-250g seems to be the general consensus. Guess it depends how think the powder coat is.

Looking at 2 identical frames - except the finish, 1 is powder coated, 1 is anodised

and it claims more than 300g weight difference between the two. I presumed the lighter one was without shock included but maybe not

bennett_346

I suppose it depends really on how many layers of powder coating there is.

The Northern Monkey

bennett_346 wrote:

I suppose it depends

Yup.

Also, a frame with no paint will be lighter don't ya know.

Northwind

Yup, polished metal will be lighter. As long as you don't actually use polish, those grams of Mr Sheen add up

The Rookie

Anodising adds next to naff all, paint can add upto 250g, powdercoat is a little heavier, so 300g sounds plausible.

ilovedirt

bennett_346 wrote:

I suppose it depends really on how many layers of powder coating there is.

You would never do more than one coat...

bennett_346

Really? So explain to me how my powder coated frame has two different colours on it?

Kowalski675

ilovedirt wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

I suppose it depends really on how many layers of powder coating there is.

You would never do more than one coat...

Entirely depends on the colour and finish you're coating. One of my bike frames is pwdercoated metallic silver, then a silver metalflake, then candy teal green, then clear lacquer. I have wheels that are three coats (silver base, candy top coat then lacquer or two coats (gloss black then a clear lacquer with silver metalflake in. Even basic flat colours will sometimes be lacquered too.

Anodising is just a chemical surface coating and doesn't add any weight (not that could be measured by any normal domestic scales anyway) and is only a few microns thick.

ilovedirt

Oh, I thought the whole point of powder coating was that you get a durable finish without having to do multiple coats and lacquering...?

supersonic

Powder coating and paint is solely there to make (aluminium) frames look nice. There is no other reason for it. Anodized and a simple bare finish is lighter, and will look better after a few scuffs.

Kowalski675

ilovedirt wrote:

Oh, I thought the whole point of powder coating was that you get a durable finish without having to do multiple coats and lacquering...?

All depends what colours, finishes and effects you want. For regular flat colours (like a gloss black, for example you don't need to lacquer (and in some cases, like white, lacquer can make it look yellowy), but you need lacquer on metallics and candies (and candies need a base coat).

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

Powder coating and paint is solely there to make (aluminium) frames look nice. There is no other reason for it. Anodized and a simple bare finish is lighter, and will look better after a few scuffs.

A bare ally finish will soon look very dull unless it's lacquered or clear anodised.

supersonic

Indeed, but the dull coating is aluminium oxide, basically a ceramic which protects the frame.

nicklouse

Focus left their carbon frames raw as it saved 300g.

bennett_346

300g is a pretty significant amount. That kind of saving would cost you hundreds if done elsewhere. Puts it into perspective how much heavier car bodys are once painted.

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

Indeed, but the dull coating is aluminium oxide, basically a ceramic which protects the frame.

Most people won't want a dull grey frame though.

Strive AL comes with the option of a lacquered bare ally frame:



With the weather that passes for British summers, the dirt you've picked up after a mile will weigh more than 300g.

The Rookie

Yeah but bike will stay weigh 300g MORE won't it!

supersonic

And proves my point - is purely cosmetic.

Kowalski675

The Beginner wrote:

Yeah but bike will stay weigh 300g MORE won't it!

A whole 300g. I'm really going to notice that...

supersonic

I would, but I have a 20lbs XC bike ;-). Some people are happy to pay £50 on a new stem to shed 20g, or argue about the weight difference in SLX and XT brakes. Paint adds nothing positive to the way a bike rides, and is cheaper not to use it!

felix.london

supersonic wrote:

Some people are happy to pay £50 on a new stem to shed 20g, or argue about the weight difference in SLX and XT brakes. Paint adds nothing positive to the way a bike rides, and is cheaper not to use it!

bennett_346 wrote:

300g is a pretty significant amount. That kind of saving would cost you hundreds if done elsewhere

I'm sold

mcnultycop

My raw Scandal just looks like it means business. Same with the LBS owner's Nicolaii, nicely industrial. Can I strip the paint of my fork lowers to match...?

Northwind

Not a good idea with fork lowers... Magnesium alloy, much more reactive than aluminium alloys. There's some coatings that work for it, like the rockshox keronite but if you just leave the metal exposed to air you can see it oxidising literally overnight.

Kowalski675

supersonic wrote:

I would, but I have a 20lbs XC bike ;-). Some people are happy to pay £50 on a new stem to shed 20g, or argue about the weight difference in SLX and XT brakes. Paint adds nothing positive to the way a bike rides,

So we're back to anodising - looks pretty and weighs nothing, lol. Best of both worlds.

felix.london

Bought;

http://www.bikester.fr/328811.html

Seems like a great price.

After discounts and delivery about £60 more than the Titus El Guapo and for that I get a 12mm rear axle, a black frame, direct mount front mech and... It's anodised!

Kowalski675

Don't know what it is, but it looks nice - love the stealth blacl on black logo.

felix.london

Yep. This is the 300g heavier/€200 cheaper powder coat version

http://www.bikeunit.de/fahrradteile/rahmen/votec-vsx-enduro-165-mm-rahmen-schwarz-matt/333980.html

Doesn't look as good and anyway - luckily for me - was out of stock or else I'd have to have saved the €200 and bought that one instead...happy days