Window trim finish
 

Hello all,
Probably should post this in body work - but I think you get better responses here.

Just finishing new paint work on my 78 930 - tub up restoration. What do you find is the best way to finish the window frames, door handles and glass trim? Matte finish cleat coat over black paint - or - powder coating. Powder coating will probably hold up better - but I am concerned about the thickness of the paint.

Let me know what you guys have done and the best way to proceed.

Thanks,
Mark

I will be doing the same soon. I was considering having it all powder-coated for durability. I'm not sure what most people are doing.

i am in this process with all window trim, handles, and wipers...

i have two things i am playing with

1. i have talked to a powder coater that i have used a bunch of times in the past.
they can powdercoat aluminum no problem, and the thickness shouldnt be a problem. some powdercoaters do not do aluminum, so check first.

2. i sent some small bits to the guys that did my wheels, to see if they could put a brushed finish on them, and then have them anodized grey to match my wheels.

the correct finish is anodized, but my understanding is anodizing is expensive, and tends to fade over time.

i would not trust paint on them, i dont think it would hold up at all

The factory finish is black annodizing on the window trim, not sure about the door handles but I would imagine it's easier and cheaper once you factor time to just buy new handles. Painted window trims just never look right to me, I see it all the time, but I am fussy... Annodising really isn't that hard or expensive to have done, I've had countless parts re-annodised on my motorbike, I'm not sure why a lot of people don't bother.

Do not paint or powdercoat these pieces! Looks terrible and not correct. As Spence said annnodizing is not a big deal and is correct. Will make a huge difference in the finished product of all your effort.

Hey all,

Please excuse me for being a too picky little ba***rd, but ALL anodizing is a clear process to begin with.

The parts are then dipped into a sealing color stain to achieve the end color result, be it red, purple, green, gray, black, yellow, gold, etc. The end color can have a large range variation.

Make sure your platter has the color stain that you desire, and see a sample before you commit all you trim pieces to their available stain.

I have had thousands of parts anodized throughout the years of maunfacturing aircraft & military parts. One man's red, is another man's pink, if you get my drift.

Mark

i half agree with you...let me explain.

1) powder coating is actually not a bad option and looks pretty good (i have recently seen it done and the result is quite good) and they will clearly hold up!

2) I agree that anodizing is the only way to go if you have really committed to a big dollar, long hours resto. it is simply correct!

pcb

Mark you are correct. I went so far as to replicate the clear anodizing on the aluminum window trim for my Alfa that I first fully polished the trim removing all the previous anodizing and then had it re-applied. Beautiful in clear.

Pete, It can be done well but it comes down to how thick the powder is applied. If done very thin it can be nice....but still not correct.