View Full Version : Powder coating stock peelers?
motionneon
11-14-2012, 06:45 PM
Hey guys. I've seen some posts/pics earlier on the forum of a few people who black powder coated stock peelers. Any thoughts on safety and/or durability of doing this? I've heard the process can damage poor quality wheels. If you've done this please post pics. On some cars it looks ghetto, but I saw a sick blacked out B8 in my neighborhood the other day. Don't wanna spend a few grand on new wheels. Thanks in advance for any input.
well_armed
11-14-2012, 06:53 PM
Plasti-dip
motionneon
11-14-2012, 06:58 PM
Plasti-dip
Yea. Thought about that but afraid of it looking uneven and having to be redone after washing a few times or if bump into it funny etc.
vhstejskal
11-14-2012, 07:10 PM
There should be no concern in impacting the integrity of the wheel if you take it to a reputable powder coater... I have had more than enough things on my car powder coated to know it's durable and can take the heat cycles of brakes, wheels, sway bar, valve cover, intake mani, IC charge pipes, CP adapters, blah, blah blah... [up]
Oh and some picture whoring... [:D]
Wheels
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/vhstejskal/DSC_0121.jpg
Brakes
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/vhstejskal/DSC_0068.jpg
Engine Bay
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/vhstejskal/DSC_0127.jpg
trfracer414
11-15-2012, 12:25 AM
Had mine done recently. They came out perfect IMO and I've gotten many compliments on them. As long as you go to a good/reputable powdercoater, you can't go wrong. Hope that helps.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/trfracer414/7EA627CD-40D4-447E-BF69-8E8EBB18B64A-49072-00000639A043E65D-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/trfracer414/52CDF7BA-EE2F-4D65-AACD-6EDE8C54EBAD-49072-0000063A3F4C1685-1.jpg
Hsiang
11-15-2012, 12:39 AM
very nicely done! where did u get them done? how much?
trfracer414
11-15-2012, 01:07 AM
very nicely done! where did u get them done? how much?
Got them done at Primo Powdercoating in Huntington Beach. I'm pretty picky in choosing where I go and I can honestly say they did a perfect job. Ran me about $450.
motionneon
11-15-2012, 01:52 AM
Had mine done recently. They came out perfect IMO and I've gotten many compliments on them. As long as you go to a good/reputable powdercoater, you can't go wrong. Hope that helps.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/trfracer414/7EA627CD-40D4-447E-BF69-8E8EBB18B64A-49072-00000639A043E65D-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c396/trfracer414/52CDF7BA-EE2F-4D65-AACD-6EDE8C54EBAD-49072-0000063A3F4C1685-1.jpg
Looks great! Thats matte finish, correct?
skiracerblah
11-15-2012, 07:28 AM
don't do a glossy black which i did. Glossy black shows brake dust way too easily!
Powdercoating definitely does something to structural integrity of wheels. All my friends and myself who have ever had a wheel powdercoated (stock wheels mostly) they have always ended up with slow leaks or cracks down the road. It wasnt instant but would happen within months. If you live somewhere without potholes/manholes/road irregularities than by all means go for it. But if you live in a place like NY I can guaruntee you will have the integrity of your wheel compromised on a road imperfection where otherwise the stock unmolested wheel would have withstood the impact.
Doc Brown
11-15-2012, 08:12 AM
don't do a glossy black which i did. Glossy black shows brake dust way too easily!
Agree. Satin Black is the way to go.
And I have had factory wheels powder coated in the past and had no problems. Very durable. Some of those wheels were in use for four years (winter wheels) and I had none of the problems reported by others. No leaks. no bends. No cracks. and PGH roads are not that great. I landed hard enough to blister a couple of tires. Wheels survived.
I gotta figure out how to post a pic.
skiracerblah
11-15-2012, 09:07 AM
whatever you do, dont powder coat them a 2nd time. I had a toal of 3 rims that cracked that were powder coated 2-3 times each... Other rims i had that were powder coated only once were fine...
trfracer414
11-15-2012, 10:06 AM
Looks great! Thats matte finish, correct?
Yes. Matte Black
Josh@DriveSPM
11-15-2012, 11:28 AM
Powdercoating definitely does something to structural integrity of wheels. All my friends and myself who have ever had a wheel powdercoated (stock wheels mostly) they have always ended up with slow leaks or cracks down the road. It wasnt instant but would happen within months. If you live somewhere without potholes/manholes/road irregularities than by all means go for it. But if you live in a place like NY I can guaruntee you will have the integrity of your wheel compromised on a road imperfection where otherwise the stock unmolested wheel would have withstood the impact.
It depends on how the original finish is removed, liquid strippers or blasting will not weaken the structural integrity. Most shops will use the burn off method - wheel in the oven at 900 degrees to make the original finish turn to dust. That process could weaken the material. I have been coating wheels (personal business) for years. I strip the wheel then put it in the blaster...no issues to date.
*Most powders cure around 350-410 degrees.
vhstejskal
11-15-2012, 12:16 PM
It depends on how the original finish is removed, liquid strippers or blasting will not weaken the structural integrity. Most shops will use the burn off method - wheel in the oven at 900 degrees to make the original finish turn to dust. That process could weaken the material. I have been coating wheels (personal business) for years. I strip the wheel then put it in the blaster...no issues to date.
*Most powders cure around 350-410 degrees.
This....
Also for anyone that has had leaks post powder... I had that problem with one wheel but it was because during the coating process the wheel was hung up via the valve stem hole... There ended up being small build up on one side of the valve stem hole causing the valve stem to not sit flush... Local tire place just sanded it flush and no issues...
Doc Brown
11-15-2012, 01:07 PM
It depends on how the original finish is removed, liquid strippers or blasting will not weaken the structural integrity. Most shops will use the burn off method - wheel in the oven at 900 degrees to make the original finish turn to dust. That process could weaken the material. I have been coating wheels (personal business) for years. I strip the wheel then put it in the blaster...no issues to date.
*Most powders cure around 350-410 degrees.
This is probably a factor in the failures as annealing temps for aluminum (depending on alloy) are below 900 degrees, IIRC. Not a metalurgist by any stretch, but I have stored a great deal of worthless knowledge over the years. Perhaps that is why some people have had failures and others not.
The guy I have used for my wheels blasted them clean. He didn't burn them clean