Is there a difference between painting wheels and powdercoating wheels?

If so, is one cheaper, better, etc. Than the other?

 

Yes there is a technical difference but the technique should not concern you. A professional wheel painter will choose a technique to give you the results that you want. Don't get caught up in the language.

 

Paint is likely going to be cheaper than powdercoating. It will chip easier, but it's ability to withstand regular driving will depend on the quality of the finish. Powdercoating is generally more expensive, but the finish is spectacular. If you are wanting to powdercoat a forged wheel though, it's a must that you go to a shop that is familiar with powdercoating forged parts to maintain the integrity of the part.

Powdercoat all the way for me.

 

it depends on what you want to get coated

 

Okay, I called the shop that does it here in NOVA and they quoted me $138 per wheel for powdercoating. Does that sound like a fair price? I'm assuming they base the price off of the wheel size.

 

that's an okay price but i'd call around a few places for more. just google powder coating in chantilly or whatever and there may be info on other forums as to where to go.

 

Powdercoating is a self-limiting coating process so it typically results in a uniform coating when done properly. That is, areas don't get undercoated or overcoated.

This can be done with paint but takes a lot more skill particularly when painting complex shapes like wheels.

You can apply all kinds of coatings using the powdercoat method. It's also called electrostatic spray technique.

Both can be done well or poorly, sometimes only time will tell. If it's important to you I would say don't ever go cheap on paint.

 

Interesting information. i was unclear of the difference myself. ^ Thanks for the clarity.

 

don't forget that when powdercoating, the electrostatic spray particals are applied to an object that is then uniformily heated at a specific temperature... i.e. it's baked.

 

that's alot. i got my wheels professionally powdercoated for $100/wheel and turn around time was 2 days.

 

I was going to mention, but they bake certain paints/clearcoats as well right?

 

I got my rims painted for 100. That was for all 4 wheels

 

i think they do cure them with heat, but nothing to the 3-4xx* F that PC does for the entire wheel....

if its a bad PC place, they'll bake the wheel too long.. which isnt good for integrity.

 

Yeah I'm going to shop around. I think that $100 a wheel is fair, that's what I thought it would be. Any of you guys from Northern Virginia and have your wheels painted or powdercoated? Any pics? I'd like to see the end result. Thanks for all of your help, much appreciated!

 

I want to powder coat my rims from black to white. Does anyone suggest this over painting? are there any negatives to powder coating?
If anyone could supply a picture of their wheels after they coated them or something that would be great! Thanks

 

i used to have white powdercoated wheels. a friend of mine who is a professional did the job for me. here is his site and he explains the benefits versus painting it.

http://needpowdercoating.wordpress.c...owder-coating/

my wheels had a glossy finish which made it easy to clean but since it was white it was hard to keep clean

 

I powdercoated mine due to mismatch of colors after I broke one in a blow out. So far I have seen no negatives to the process though I have heard that the heating process can make the wheels weaker.

Also my centercaps were plastic so now I have to decide something to do with those. I was happy with result. They are just regular grey until sunlight hits them and then the the sparkle jumps out. This picture is at nightin my garage and outside after install before a storm.





Sorry bout the size.

 

Hi ya

I got Abbey Motorsport to powdercoat my OEM Rays black.
fantastic job and as they are forged should not be effected by the heating
process.

There are a few horror stories this side of the pond about powder coating cheap
after market wheels.
Peter

 

Hopefully I have managed to uplaod some shots of the wheels or at least given you a like to them
Appologies if l have done this wrong (again)

http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...g/DSCF0261.jpg



http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/...g/DSCF0255.jpg

 

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