Topic: Frame paint

[alancop]

polyester-most common,flows well and lays smooth-fairly durable

epoxy-very hard and impact resistant,but can fade/lose gloss if exposed to constant weather. But on a bike,we have good success with epoxy. Gravels wont chip it and most people store their bikes inside or covered so the weather does not really affect it.Great chemical resistance

fluoropolymer-awesome weather resistance,but we have limited colors to use.Gloss black is alway s available in any compuond,though

So which one is the toughest?

[shinyribs]

There are other types of powders still,but those three are the most common. Epoxy will be the toughest ad far as impact (rocks thrown from cars,accidentally hitting it with a wrench) and abrasion goes. The smooth flow out of the polyester can give a glossier appearance,but properly cured/flowed epoxies will be just as glossy. Typical gloss black is considered 80-85% gloss. Strange,I know. We just got some Super Gloss black rated at 95-100% and it is smooooth.The fluoropolymers will be the absolute toughest for weather and UV fade,but they are very nonflexible and tend to be a tad grainy. Not bad,but not as smooth/glossy as epoxy or poly