FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does it cost to powder coat?

Powder coating prices vary greatly from job to job. Factors that go into pricing of parts include:

• Amount of preparation required. This can vary from; having to chemically strip the parts, degrease/hot tanking, sandblast, etch, hand sand, hand brush … etc. Parts need to be completely bare metal, grease free, and etched properly prior to coating for the best adhesion possible.
• Masking required on parts. Various parts will need to be masked off prior to powder coating. That can include bearing surfaces, tight fitting joints, mating surfaces that require them to stay true, ground connections points, studs, 2 tone colors on parts, stencils … and so on. The more masking the more labor that goes into it.
• Color wanted on parts. Certain colors require multiple coats to be achieved, we start from basic single stage colors, moving to base coat/ clear coat colors, and finally to candy colors which can require metallic base/ candy clear/ clear coat. Going one step from that, zinc rich primers can be added under all those for added durability in exterior applications, especially for steel parts.
• Quantities of parts. There are normally discounts on parts with larger volumes of the same color.

What can be powder coated?

We can powder coat almost anything that can withstand about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. That includes; aluminum, steel, magnesium, titanium, stainless steel, white metal, cast metal, glass, chrome parts.

 

Is powder coating UV stable?

Most powder coats we carry and keep in stock are UV stable and are rated for both indoor and outdoor use. A UV stable clear coat is normally added to metallic and pearl colors for better exterior durability and also adds depth to the color.

However, certain colors such as neon/fluorescent colors, will tend to always fade much quicker than traditional colors due to the way they absorb and reflex light. A clear coat will help slow down the process, but will inevitably still occur.

Can you powder coat a chrome color?

Although a chrome powder coat color exists, it is primarily designed as a base coat for candy colors to give a brighter look to the parts if the parts aren’t previously chromed or polished. The chrome powder coat on its own look more like a slightly dull polished aluminum, rather than a true chrome color as the name suggests.

Chrome powder coat colors do have a few drawbacks. If applied on their own, without a clear coat, they are not UV stable, and the surface finish is scratched relatively easily as the “chrome” color is a superficial layer and the base layer, grey, is exposed when scuffed. Adding a clear coat to protect that from happening, only further dulls the color down to a bright silver as the light reflection is lost going in and out of the clear coat. This is true for both paint and powder coat clear coats when applied over the chrome finish.

The last issue with chrome powder coat, is the fact that when applying any color on top of it, the top layers are highly susceptible to de-lamination. This is due to the fact that in order to achieve the “chrome”look, the chrome coat has to be fully cured prior to adding any other layers. This acts almost like painting over glass, as the chrome finish is a very smooth finish, offering no mechanical bond between it and any other layers on top of it. It’s for this main reason that we normally recommend a silver base coat for candy colors, as with silver base coats, we are able to partially cure the base coat, and then applying the top layers which allows the layers to melt and fuse together creating the strength of one single layer.

Can you powder coat wheel center caps?

Most center caps are generally made out of plastic and would melt in the oven if we try to powder coat them. However, if your center caps are made out of steel or aluminum, we can certainly coat those.

Can you paint match my paint color code to powder coat?

Generally speaking, no. Car color codes do not cross over to powder coating codes. The best thing to do is bring in a sample color of what you are trying to match and we would match our swatches to it, or we can custom mix certain colors to try our best to get it as close as possible.

Aside from that, the only paints that can cross over properly to powder coats are RAL color codes.

Can you powder coat brake caliper?

Yes! Brake calipers have to be brought in off the vehicle, but that is about the only thing that needs to be done. From there we can take care of removing all the pistons and seals from them, along with rebuilding them with new seals if required. With proper planning / scheduling we can turn them around within 24 hours to ensure your vehicle is off the hoist as quick as possible.

Can you powder coat over chrome parts?

Yes we can. We powder coat over chrome bike parts and rims constantly without any issues, the majority of the time. The key part is getting a good etch on the parts prior to powder coating to allow good mechanical adhesion. The one issue you may experience however down the line, is that if the chrome starts create a galvanic reaction between it and the parent material (typically with aluminum) that remaining chrome can start to bubble up and lift the powder coating with it. This is one risk to consider especially if these are rims on a vehicle.

Certain parts though that have chrome already flaking off them, would either be feathered out as best as possible and can then a powder primer coat can be applied to allow us to block sand the low areas and provide a smooth, level surface to work from. In some small cases of aluminium chromed parts only, we are able to have the chrome removed completely by reverse plating it off.

Why do some of my parts have little bumps on there with pinholes?

Certain parts, usually cast and/or corroded parts, can outgas. Out gassing imperfections generally is caused by gasses or oils stuck in the imperfections of the casting or deep holes in the corroded parts, to escape and expand as they are being cured in the oven, and causing a “bump” looking like a tiny volcano. Although we go through great lengths to eliminate that from happening by doing things such as pre-heating the parts to try and release as many things a possible before hand and adding a dense base primer that is designed to help combat that, certain parts will unfortunately, relentlessly keep out gassing. But do know that we do try our best to stop that from happening before we give you your parts back.

What’s your turn around time powder coating parts?

Turn around times can be anywhere from same day to a couple of weeks depending on few circumstances. Some of those will include;

– How busy we are at that point of time

– Whether we have the color in stock or not

– What the parts are and what condition they come in

– Certain priority rush jobs can be bumped up the line

– Physical size and color of the part, some smaller parts can be put with other parts in the ovens.

It’s always best to contact us, to see exact quote time for your project at the time you want to have it done.

Can you remove rims from vehicles at your facility for powder coating while leaving the vehicle there?

At the present time, we do not offer this service. We normally suggest doing powder coating jobs in between season changes when the rims are not in use, or if the car can be left on a hoist or jack stands for a couple of days.

Can you remove tires from rims for powder coating?

Our preferred method of having rims dropped off is with the rubber already removed as we do not have a tire machine in house. We can accommodate it and pricing varies on the rim size, style, and tire profile.

Can you fix curb rash on wheels before powder coating?

Yes! Most of the rims we normally coat generally have some variation of rash on them. On light rashes we are able to removes a light layer of material to remove the rash, while others will require TIG welding prior to blending, which we also do all in house.

My rim is cracked on the inside edge, can you repair that?

We do a lot of repairs of cracked rims, and often turn them around as either same day or next day service. These hairline cracks are generally on the inside edge and are cause by a few different reasons, but the major cause is generally due to thin tires and pot holes. Once the wheels hits it, the rubber has very little flex in it, and cracks the rims. To properly repair them, we drill out the end of the crack to remove any internal stresses that can further extend that crack, followed by V- grooving the cracked area to allow for a full penetration weld and then profile the inside edge of the rim where the bead seals perfectly smooth to ensure no more leaks occur from those areas.

How long should I wait for powder coating to cure before using the part?

Powder coating is not like painting and has no cure time after it cools down enough to handle. With traditional paint, this cure time exists as you have to wait for solvents within the paint to evaporate fully and harden properly. With powder coating, the curing happens while its in the oven during its curing schedule, which allows the cross-linking agents to bind and form properly. Once that occurs and the parts are cooled back down to room temperature, the parts are 100% cured and ready for use.

How big of a part can you powder coat?

Currently, our largest oven is about 3’x4’x6′ internally sized. There needs to be some room and a way for us to hang the parts, so that needs to be considered when doing parts. We can generally accommodate motorcycle frames, ATV frames, certain bumpers and running boards within that length.

How many colors of powder coating do you carry in stock?

We have hundreds of colors in stock, along with the ability to custom mix colors in house to allow us to turn parts around as quick as possible back to you, but ordering non stock colors are generally only 1-4 days shipping transit time to us, so delays are kept to a minimum and we will generally notify you of any possible delays at the time of drop off.

Our huge inventory of diverse colors is one of the reasons that keeps us one notch above the competition in quicker turn around times.

Why should I powder coat my parts instead of painting them?

A properly applied powder coat allows for a strong, chip, wear, and chemically resistant coating, all while being more green to the environment than paint and parts are able to be installed within minutes of them cooling down.

Due to these benefits, powder coating is used in a wide variety of industries and growing by the day. Powder coating can be seen in everyday uses from chairs, shelving, racking, tools, automotive parts, gardening equipment, household appliances … and much more! Polyester based powder coat make up the vast majority or the powder coating we spray, but we do also carry some epoxy, hybrids and acrylics for special uses.

Can you weld cast aluminum?

We certain can. Some people have the misconception that welding cast aluminum is very difficult, but with our year of experience, we can handle it without any major issues. Certain castings may require a bit more work than others to repair properly due to impurities and oil contamination within the casting, but very little is impossible. We have welded everything from valve covers, oil pans, engine casings, engine blocks, machinery equipment, all with success.

Can you weld magnesium?

We can weld both cast and machined magnesium.

Can you weld Titanium?

We keep titanium TIG rods in stock that normally work with most exhaust systems found on cars and motorcycles.

Can you repair aluminium diesel tanks?

From repairing leaking straps with new 1/8″ aluminum material, extending and shortening tanks, replacing stripped/corroded fittings, or any road mishaps, we can normally repair tanks within a 24 hours period.

What material do you make your exhaust/headers from?

We can cater to all sort of materials to suit your needs and budget. From aluminized steel, 409 Stainless, 304 Stainless, 321 Stainless, Inconel, Titanium, we can customize it to your needs and budget. Contact us directly for a quote on your project.

How much does it cost to change or delete the muffler on my car?

Every vehicle is different and requires us to look at the vehicle in person to know what all is needed, and from there a quote can be provided.

How long does it take to ceramic coat headers?

Ceramic coating full cure time is about 5 days after being sprayed. Handling and installation onto the vehicle can be done within 48 hours, but must not be run until then. Ceramic coating is normally sprayed in batches, unless your parts are large enough to warrant running them as their own. Normal expected turn around time are generally 1-2 weeks.

How durable is your high temp ceramic coating?

Our ceramic coating is durable to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temp formulation is a great coating for a thermal barrier application. Vastly used on exhaust headers, turbo manifolds, turbo hot sides, heat shields, brake caliper pistons … etc. This type of ceramic coating is not designed for abrasion resistance, and any gritty material can and will cause scratches into the coating.

How thick is your high temp ceramic coating?

Our ceramic coatings are generally applied at a thickness between 0.001-0.002″.

Does your ceramic coating discolor?

Our ceramic coatings are rated to about 1800*F prior to discoloration. Discoloration can occur from other sources though, such as oils or liquids on the parts and then run without being fully cleaned and de-greased.