Powder Coating

BenjaminGuardiola · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:31 am **Posts:** 84

Looking for recommendations for a Triangle area shop. Willing to drive further.
I want to have a set of rims cleaned and coated, and possibly the valve cover.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:55 am

Here are a couple:

Carolina Custom Powder Coating Inc
104 Woodwinds Industrial Ct Ste E,
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-9600

Top Coat Inc
Sandblasting Service
Address: 6001 Triangle Dr, Raleigh, NC 27617
Phone:(919) 787-0302

I have used and had good results from Carolina Custom Powder Coating. I've never used Top Coat, but it gets a lot of recommendations.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2015 11:23 am

I have my own setup that I can use for smaller parts, but I am curious as to what you would expect to be charged for something as large as a wheel for example?

Richard

BenjaminGuardiola · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:31 am **Posts:** 84

With them cleaning them I am hoping to be under $200 for a set of 4.
The wheels are pitted and I think it might be worth paying someone with the proper equipment to do it.
I could spend hours sanding by hand and then rattle can them. I doubt the end product would be worth the time invested.

I could just leave them as is, since the corrosion is a protective layer.
I will only be using them for autocross, so function takes priority.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:08 pm

I would expect it to cost you a bit more than that. Do you mind posting the quotes that you get?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:21 pm

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

With them cleaning them I am hoping to be under $200 for a set of 4.
The wheels are pitted and I think it might be worth paying someone with the proper equipment to do it.
I could spend hours sanding by hand and then rattle can them. I doubt the end product would be worth the time invested.

I could just leave them as is, since the corrosion is a protective layer.
I will only be using them for autocross, so function takes priority.

I agree with Jason that $200 is going to be very optimistic. I prepped a set of 18x8.5's for my old STi that had no pitting. A local place to Charlotte (Hot Box), who was the cheapest by over $200 for the set, did them for $400. They came out decent, but if I had to do it again, I would have paid extra to have them done better. - AB

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:43 pm

I'll plug an old carolinahondas sponsor: http://www.exotics-inc.com/ (in Kernersville now)

BenjaminGuardiola · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:31 am **Posts:** 84

I am getting prices in the $400 range.
The odd thing is they do not care how big the wheels are or how intricate the spokes are.
They just charge a flat $100/ea for any rim.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:26 am

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

I am getting prices in the $400 range.
The odd thing is they do not care how big the wheels are or how intricate the spokes are.
They just charge a flat $100/ea for any rim.

For that price I'd rattle can 'em. I've lost count of the amount of wheels I've painted and all have held up well. Just buy some decent automotive paint. Stuff like Krylon doesn't hold up well...

BenjaminGuardiola · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:31 am **Posts:** 84

I think cleaning and rattle canning is the path I will take.
I am hoping I can get by with some degreaser and a Scotchbrite pad.
Rustoleum makes some etching primers for aluminum.
Should be well under $50 doing the work myself. Much easier to stomach than $400.

Just need to decide on a color. Kinda leaning toward "Safety Yellow" at the moment :thumbsup:

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:22 pm

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

I think cleaning and rattle canning is the path I will take.
I am hoping I can get by with some degreaser and a Scotchbrite pad.
Rustoleum makes some etching primers for aluminum.
Should be well under $50 doing the work myself. Much easier to stomach than $400.

Just need to decide on a color. Kinda leaning toward "Safety Yellow" at the moment :thumbsup:

I'm not sure on this, but I think that etching primer is made for bare aluminum. Unless you've removed the clear coat/polish from your wheels, you might be better off with a light sanding and a regular primer.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:16 pm

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

I am getting prices in the $400 range.
The odd thing is they do not care how big the wheels are or how intricate the spokes are.
They just charge a flat $100/ea for any rim.

I had a friend powder coat some rotors hubs a while ago. from what I remember it was stupid easy. you spray the powder on after charging the metal. Stick it in the oven without touching the powder then cook it. I dont think the design of a rim would make it complicated, just spray and bake

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:02 pm

JasonWatts wrote:

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

I am getting prices in the $400 range.
The odd thing is they do not care how big the wheels are or how intricate the spokes are.
They just charge a flat $100/ea for any rim.

I had a friend powder coat some rotors hubs a while ago. from what I remember it was stupid easy. you spray the powder on after charging the metal. Stick it in the oven without touching the powder then cook it. I dont think the design of a rim would make it complicated, just spray and bake

Wheels have a lot of narrow areas that are difficult to get powder to flow into. The electrical charge tends to pull the powder to the walls without letting it get all the way into the crevice.

The expense of powdercoating is mostly in the prep. For the best finish, you'll need to sandblast the wheels, which takes a lot more time then coating them.

With that said, I think they are just charging a market price for coating wheels.

BenjaminGuardiola · **Joined:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:31 am **Posts:** 84

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I think they are just charging a market price for coating wheels.

With 4 shops quoting the same price, seems like price fixing to me. :roll:

JasonWatts wrote:

Stick it in the oven without touching the powder then cook it.

I am 100% certain my wife would not go for this. Are you volunteering your oven?

So I bought some cleaner, paint, and primer last night. Total is up to $30 so far.
I don't know if 2 cans of each will be enough for 4 rims. Regularly stocked at HD Racing though.
Probably won't have time to work on them for a bit, but I will update with pictures if anyone is interested.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:46 am

BenjaminGuardiola wrote:

With 4 shops quoting the same price, seems like price fixing to me. :roll:

This may be a joke not well worded, but take a look at the post I had above. It was $400 down here in Charlotte too. Like Jason said, this isn't price fixing, this is just the market price. - AB

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