Topic: Frame: powdercoat, or not.

[Blackfin5]

So, Mark, what is your decision?

[HondaMan]

So, Mark, what is your decision?

Right now I'm leaning toward at least one frame in powder: I have now 6 bikes I am 'doing'. The one I will powder has some scratches on the frame that I will likely have welded up and ground smooth again: I think the powder will help mask the less-than-perfect results. It's in a spot where it will be real hard to make the surface perfect again. One of the other frames has a section of rust in the lower tubes that I might just cut out and install a new section of pipe, that one might get the treatment, too. Most of the others are "resto" to as close-to-OEM as I can get orders. One is a nice F1, just finished the Candy Orange Sunrise paint job after fixing about 10 little dings in the tank and rear cowl. Whew! Lots of detail work on that one: the local Ace Hardware store owner wants it when I am done.

[Retro Rocket]

If it weren't better than paint, factories would still be painting frames and not powdercoating them.

For a parcours restoration, sure use what is original. For a valuable, durable and beautiful restoration, renovation, modification, nothing beats powdercoat.

Even in candy colors!

I saw a purple over silver candy powder coated rock crawler chassis a couple of days ago, looked amazing...

[ekpent]

The funny thing on this debate is whether a person does powder coat or a good higher quality paint with modern materials than the factory ever used is if you will ever keep the bike or live long enough to really ever be able to answer your final questions. Don't think anybody  going through a resto is going to be leaving them in a snowbank.  Reminds me of when my folks built a new house and my Mother wanted Chicago Commons brick. The Dutch builder said it would only last for 80-100 years and she freaked out and chose something different. Later on in years we all laughed as we all agreed who gives a crap after we are all dead     She always wished she had the Chicago Commons.
   Think for the span of our ownership either choice is a good option if both are done correctly.

[seanbarney41]

no one really rides this old junk anyway

[grcamna2]

High humidity especially along the ocean where I used to live;that 'mist/dew' that rolls off the ocean at night along w/ the salt air does tend to work fast on metal parts.I want to get protection from that because I might live there again someday,if I can afford to...  it's nice to dream

[HondaMan]

Can you choose to have the PC'er do either a heavy coat or choose a light coat? I just wondered what they usually do ? 

Again,do any of you know if they can choose to PC either a light or heavy coat? I don't like to cover up my frame too thick and want the frame number stamps to show through well as they've been stamped only lightly.

In some states it is illegal to coat the numbers at all. When coating numbers is an issue we will spray the whole frame as usual and then just hit the number area with a light coating to cover but not fill the numbers. Keep in mind when applied properly the coating is only .0015"-.003" thick, the numbers are much deeper than that. Some times we apply the color with out shooting the numbers and then add a clear coat over the whole thing so the numbers can still be read but won't rust from being unprotected.

OK, Part II (or, Chapter IV-A, if you know where that comes from...   )
I opened my waited-too-long-to-use-it Candy Blue-Green kit last month, and it's goners. My leathers are still this color, which I always wanted on my own ride.

Powderman: what are my Candy Blue-Green metallic options in powder? (Tank and new Frankenstuff side covers). Would it have the translucent candy look to it? The Blue-green originally was a green over silver metallic base, with blue over that. It wasn't a sparkle metalflake, but a candy over metallic.

I STILL want that on mine. Winter's almost here. 

[Lostboy Steve]

Can you choose to have the PC'er do either a heavy coat or choose a light coat? I just wondered what they usually do ? 

Again,do any of you know if they can choose to PC either a light or heavy coat? I don't like to cover up my frame too thick and want the frame number stamps to show through well as they've been stamped only lightly.

In some states it is illegal to coat the numbers at all. When coating numbers is an issue we will spray the whole frame as usual and then just hit the number area with a light coating to cover but not fill the numbers. Keep in mind when applied properly the coating is only .0015"-.003" thick, the numbers are much deeper than that. Some times we apply the color with out shooting the numbers and then add a clear coat over the whole thing so the numbers can still be read but won't rust from being unprotected.

OK, Part II (or, Chapter IV-A, if you know where that comes from...   )
I opened my waited-too-long-to-use-it Candy Blue-Green kit last month, and it's goners. My leathers are still this color, which I always wanted on my own ride.

Powderman: what are my Candy Blue-Green metallic options in powder? (Tank and new Frankenstuff side covers). Would it have the translucent candy look to it? The Blue-green originally was a green over silver metallic base, with blue over that. It wasn't a sparkle metalflake, but a candy over metallic.

I STILL want that on mine. Winter's almost here. 

That's a dangerous question as there are endless options. http://www.prismaticpowders.com/powder-coating-colors/ Good luck. I'm sure they have something close, you're going to be looking a while tho.

[grcamna2]

If it weren't better than paint, factories would still be painting frames and not powdercoating them.

For a parcours restoration, sure use what is original. For a valuable, durable and beautiful restoration, renovation, modification, nothing beats powdercoat.

Even in candy colors!

+1 Cal 
 I'm having PC done for the first time and I plan on giving this bike hard year round use in all different weather and climates and I'll be parking it outside most of the time under a cover.It will be a 'do it all' daily driver and I'm even having the tank PC'd so it won't scratch up too much when I lay items on top of the tank.
The entire bike is black from the factory so it's cheaper for me to do it all in gloss black,and after the rusty "Yard Art' it came to me as I'll be able to see the difference 
  between junk & Treasure !
 I don't plan on just letting it sit in my heated garage while I keep the dust wiped off of it every month, no Sir. I'll be wearing it out and then rebuilding it as the years go on 

[Retro Rocket]

I don't think i would attempt to powder coat a set of plastic side covers, they would melt in the oven...

[grcamna2]

I don't think i would attempt to powder coat a set of plastic side covers, they would melt in the oven...

I agree,I had mine painted same color as PC

[HondaMan]

Can you choose to have the PC'er do either a heavy coat or choose a light coat? I just wondered what they usually do ? 

Again,do any of you know if they can choose to PC either a light or heavy coat? I don't like to cover up my frame too thick and want the frame number stamps to show through well as they've been stamped only lightly.

In some states it is illegal to coat the numbers at all. When coating numbers is an issue we will spray the whole frame as usual and then just hit the number area with a light coating to cover but not fill the numbers. Keep in mind when applied properly the coating is only .0015"-.003" thick, the numbers are much deeper than that. Some times we apply the color with out shooting the numbers and then add a clear coat over the whole thing so the numbers can still be read but won't rust from being unprotected.

OK, Part II (or, Chapter IV-A, if you know where that comes from...   )
I opened my waited-too-long-to-use-it Candy Blue-Green kit last month, and it's goners. My leathers are still this color, which I always wanted on my own ride.

Powderman: what are my Candy Blue-Green metallic options in powder? (Tank and new Frankenstuff side covers). Would it have the translucent candy look to it? The Blue-green originally was a green over silver metallic base, with blue over that. It wasn't a sparkle metalflake, but a candy over metallic.

I STILL want that on mine. Winter's almost here. 

That's a dangerous question as there are endless options. http://www.prismaticpowders.com/powder-coating-colors/ Good luck. I'm sure they have something close, you're going to be looking a while tho.

Ow, you're so mean! Thaere's a lot of colors there!

But, here's one that looks close, at least on a computer's screen (for what that's worth?): http://www.prismaticpowders.com/colors/PMB-795/pole-star-green/

Who else thinks this looks like candy blue-green?

[Retro Rocket]

Here you go Mark, have a look at these...    Teal candy...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=teal+candy+powdercoat&client=firefox-a&hs=F71&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=nts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gHU_VOmQHIqC8gXhsIC4Dg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=664

[grcamna2]

Retro R,
That link,on there is a darker color purple wheel that looked like it had metallic in the PC;is that common to have metallic mixed in? I like it 

[Lostboy Steve]

Can you choose to have the PC'er do either a heavy coat or choose a light coat? I just wondered what they usually do ? 

Again,do any of you know if they can choose to PC either a light or heavy coat? I don't like to cover up my frame too thick and want the frame number stamps to show through well as they've been stamped only lightly.

In some states it is illegal to coat the numbers at all. When coating numbers is an issue we will spray the whole frame as usual and then just hit the number area with a light coating to cover but not fill the numbers. Keep in mind when applied properly the coating is only .0015"-.003" thick, the numbers are much deeper than that. Some times we apply the color with out shooting the numbers and then add a clear coat over the whole thing so the numbers can still be read but won't rust from being unprotected.

OK, Part II (or, Chapter IV-A, if you know where that comes from...   )
I opened my waited-too-long-to-use-it Candy Blue-Green kit last month, and it's goners. My leathers are still this color, which I always wanted on my own ride.

Powderman: what are my Candy Blue-Green metallic options in powder? (Tank and new Frankenstuff side covers). Would it have the translucent candy look to it? The Blue-green originally was a green over silver metallic base, with blue over that. It wasn't a sparkle metalflake, but a candy over metallic.

I STILL want that on mine. Winter's almost here. 

That's a dangerous question as there are endless options. http://www.prismaticpowders.com/powder-coating-colors/ Good luck. I'm sure they have something close, you're going to be looking a while tho.

Ow, you're so mean! Thaere's a lot of colors there!

But, here's one that looks close, at least on a computer's screen (for what that's worth?): http://www.prismaticpowders.com/colors/PMB-795/pole-star-green/

Who else thinks this looks like candy blue-green?

Mark, they will send you a free swatch of whatever colors you want. Also, they do make custom colors and could probably match the color exactly. Call them up they're very friendly and helpful.

[Lostboy Steve]

Retro R,
That link,on there is a darker color purple wheel that looked like it had metallic in the PC;is that common to have metallic mixed in? I like it 

Yes, metallic color are common.

[Retro Rocket]

Retro R,
That link,on there is a darker color purple wheel that looked like it had metallic in the PC;is that common to have metallic mixed in? I like it 

Yes, metallic color are common.

There's nothing you can't get these days, just remember to get a quality powder coater that is used to doing custom colors...

[grcamna2]

Here's a picture of a shimmering silver metallic powder coated bracket I picked up today, against a black medium fine wrinkle finished trans cover.

You can just make out the silver metallic flakes in the silver background. Not the best picture, and it's intended to be a subtle metallic for this selection.

They do nice work 

[HondaMan]

Here you go Mark, have a look at these...    Teal candy...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=teal+candy+powdercoat&client=firefox-a&hs=F71&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=nts&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gHU_VOmQHIqC8gXhsIC4Dg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=664

Wow, those look like they have batteries inside?

Mark, they will send you a free swatch of whatever colors you want. Also, they do make custom colors and could probably match the color exactly. Call them up they're very friendly and helpful.

I think I'm gonna do that next. I'll pick out a couple that look close: I know from [my own programming] experience that screen colors have little to do with the image the camera once took!