pester
pester
Someone with more direct experience should comment on this one..... powder coating by everything I have read, is not going to provide the exact same sort of protection as paint.
You essentially strip the part to bare metal, then put an electrical charge on it to attract the plastic dust that will be the coating. Apply the dust, then bake the part to melt it all onto the part.
I don't see where this is going to provide a serious bond with the part. Smooth, slick, attractive.... but not that solid of a bond, in my view. I'm sure the coating is thicker than what paint will provide, so it should be able to handle a rougher subsurface, and give a smooth glossy surface.
As it's a plastic, it should bend and stretch more readily than dried paint, so on parts that may flex, it might be a good choice.
I would not want to rely on powder coat for corrosion protection. Primer tends to provide a barrier, and some sort of bonding at a molecular level to the surface being preserved. Paint tends to be designed to bond to that primer..... this makes both stick to the part very well.
Were it me, I would want the part preserved as well as possible, so I would not have to repeat the process. Epoxy paints are very tough, and bond well. Lacquer paints tend to chip easily, but dry very quickly. Enamel paints take longer to dry completely than epoxy, and are quite tough.
If your heart is set on powder coating, I would seriously consider the quality of the preparation that goes into it.
Cast aluminum rims get exposed to some pretty serious environments. all the puddles they go through, and the nicks that happen with tire changes, etc..... wrapping the rim in a plastic sheet that traps water underneath seems like a bad idea, without some sort of underlying corrosion prevention.
Btw. Aluminum does not corrode like carbon steel. No worries about it..besides how many wheels you see polished. Even frames. Unless you throw abrasive liquids to them they will not corrode. When they powdercoat. They bake the parts for the same reason. to create a good bond. Unless somebody dont know squat about powdercoating. There is no damage to it
sent from my s4