Topic: Powder Coat or Paint ?

[walkingchaos]

Ok so i have my project frame in bare metal right now. Id like to powder coat it but that takes time and money. Would it be a bad idea to prime it and paint it myself ? Does anyone have experiance either way?
   

[seaweb11]

If you want it to keep the bike for a long time "Powder"
It's Bullet proof and I have not had any chips on either of the bikes I have had done in powder coat.

It does cost $$$ though 

[Venturous]

I have been asking myself the same question and asking others also. I am not only redoing a bike frame but also a frame for a sidecar. Anyway, I have decided to go with paint. Powder Coat can chip even if top quality and is almost impossible to 'touch-up' if/when it does. Yes, paint likely will get chipped as well, but touching up is much easier. So for that reason, I will be doing paint.

A friend recommended I try this paint for the frames. He claims it is nearly chip proof and can be applied over about anything except loose rust. I can't comment personally on this stuff yet, but I do plan to use it on my bike. I did some googling and the reviews on this stuff seems promising.

http://www.magnetpaints.com/underbody.asp

[Really?]

It's usually about $200 to powedercoat a frame, ain't it?

[seaweb11]

more like $400.00+

[junkyardjon]

$275 powder at a friends shop. either way you go it's gonna chip. oh and it will rust under powder the same as paint

[scunny]

price not relevant cause I'm down under $200 for frame, swingarm, triple trees, side stand, motor mounts and battery box. this included blasting and some protective coating(zinc?) the guy that did it also gave me a touch up tin for chips if they happen.

[mcuozzo]

I voted powder.

Much more resistant to chips, petroleum based liquids and uv.  And I really don't think rust could develop under powdercoating if it was done correctly.

The magnet paints listed above are interesting.  However it seems it would wind up being more costly than powder.  You need a silver base, the black paint and then it's not uv resistant so you have to top coat it.

For a point of reference, blasting and powdercoating a frame in NJ runs about $300.

And here's what maybe a stupid question - when you paint a frame or powder coat it what do you do with the vin number tag?  Is there a way to remove it and than reattach it?  Do you just mask it?  It would seem like that would lead to a potential spot for rust.

[bryant]

self etching primer and brake caliper paint.

[walkingchaos]

Ive already had the frame media blasted. It will be preped and ready to powder coat or paint. Ive done rims for tuner cars before and i know powder is always recommended above paint. I just didnt know if there were any other considerations with bike frames.