Topic: Powder Coating Questions

[Accolay]

I'm thinking about doing a restoration for the 550F in the spring.

I received a quote for powder coating the frame and about eight other pieces from the bike including swing arm, etc. 300$ including blasting.

Is this a good rate?
Should I get the brake caliper powder coated? Should I worry about heat dissipation?
Will decals stick to powder coating the same as they will to paint?
Should I get the light and starter switches powder coated too? Will red paint stick to it for the lettering there?

Thanks.

[unkle fester]

$300 is pretty good.....be sure and remove the vin tag though..I had a frame coated and the flimsy vin tag crinkled and distorted from the heat during curing.....afterwards you can rivet it back on......heat dissipation isn't a problem on calipers......BUT....they have to be completely dissasembled.....all the little o-rings and everything....unless the calipers need to be rebuilt, I use spray bomb caliper paint...yes, sticker decals will stick...as far as the light and starter switches........personal preference....just remember all the brass contacts and stuff that is riveted inside them......all that can be masked off when coated.....I personally would use the black ceramic caliper paint on those too.............

[mcuozzo]

Yes that's a good rate.  The lowest quote I got was for $225 for blasting and powdercoating of just the frame.

I wouldn't worry about heat dissapation, a lot of factory calipers are powder coated (porsche anyone?).  And check with your powder coater, you may not have to completely disassemble your caliper.  You can powder coat at lower temps (longer cure times) that may be safe for the o-rings.  I've had porsche calipers re-coated and they did not need to be taken apart.

Decals will stick to powdercoating the same, the differnce being if you decide to take them off the glue will not damage the powdercoat.  And you can use a solvent to dissolve the glue with much less risk of damage to the paint.

I haven't looked at my 750's handlebar switches just yet (are they even metal???).  If they are metal, they should be no problem to powder coat.  If you scuff the area where you want the red paint it should stick with no problem.  But if you are having them powdercoated, why not have the lettters powdercoated red?  It's possilbe to powder coat in different colors on the same piece.

I have a small (can't do the frame) blasting\powder coating setup in my workshop and love it.  I might try and powdercoat the whole bike rather than paint it!!!

Good luck,

Matt