Paint or Powder Coat...

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by Andy-M, Jul 23, 2020.

  1. Okay, I'm after all the pros and cons...
    Painting the steel wheels and bumpers L90D??
    Or getting them powder coated using the nearest RAL code.. (RAL9016 I think..)
    So, paint?? Or powder coated??

    Oh, and where the best place to get new hub caps??

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
  2. Little Nellie

    Little Nellie Supporter

  3. You could hand paint them yourself at low cost. Or you could get the items spray painted, more expensive. Or you could get them powder coated, much more expensive.
    I would get quotes first.
     
  4. Little Nellie

    Little Nellie Supporter

  5. Oh I wouldn't do them myself never painted a thing in my life!!

    Well, I got some quotes for powder coating. They range from £300 for 5 factory steels, to £200 for the 5 wheels and both bumpers!!
    But one place had said that because of the process, it's possible you can get 'bubbling' in the crease when the inner metal meets the outer rim. This has kinda out me off powder coating.

    The other thing is the colour choice and trying to find the closest match to the original L90D Pastel White.

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
  6. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I did both! Powdercoated the wheels, then scuffed the outsides up and top coated in L90D:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Bumpers were just painted.

    [​IMG]

    Unless your bumpers are really straight powdercoat will show all of the dents and bumps the bumper has received over its life. If you paint it you'll have a bit of a chance to get it straight. I got mine shot blasted and found these dents hidden in filler:
    [​IMG]
    A bit of beating on it and only minimal filler was needed to get it straight:
    [​IMG]

    Heritage sell some nice stainless hubcaps for not much money.
     
  7. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    Where are you based?
     
  8. Thanx for that link @Little Nellie
    Just had a read

    I always thought powder coating was a stronger finish..

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
    Little Nellie likes this.
  9. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    You can see a bit of that bubbling in my powder coated wheels, I just poured cavity wax in it and cleaned it up. In hindsight neatly seam sealing it might have been a better option.
     
    Andy-M likes this.
  10. I'm in Dartford, North Kent

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
  11. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

  12. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    Just posted a link to a conversation about a place in Windsor
     
    Andy-M likes this.
  13. Cool!! Same colour bus

    Well I must admit, both my bumpers to pretty straight and dent free. But that's makes me want to go home and check them all over with a magnet to see if they have been filled. That didn't even occur to me, so thanks for that

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  14. What cavity wax did you use??
    And can you do that before or only after the powder coat??

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
    JamesLey likes this.
  15. Wow that's a long resto thread!!
    I'll have a read later when I've got a bit more time..

    "Sitting on the dock of my Bay...."
     
  16. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I've used Dynax S50 on the bus.
    After paint/powder coat only as paint needs a clean surface to stick to.
     
  17. I gave up using “professional” wheel repairers some time ago, doing it yourself with rattle cans isn’t difficult, quality of the finish is all down to the effort you put in to the prep.
     
    Little Nellie likes this.
  18. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    It’s not mine, but that page mentioned Swallow Enterprises in Windsor with the photos of the finished items.
     
  19. vinnyboy

    vinnyboy Supporter

    Rattle can for me. Halfords sell the right colour. Then spend money on nice hub caps and stainless rim embellishers
     
  20. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    I had mine powder coated mainly because they were a bit scruffy and don't have blasting facilities. They still look ok 5 years on. I've had wheels 2-pack painted previously and they lasted 10+ years still looking good.
    In hindsight wish I'd had the bumpers powder coated.
     

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