Powder Coating... what I found

rcilurso · rcilurso's Garage

I have been looking into coating my Targa bar and door handles because I just can't seem to keep paint on them. I just use my car too much I guess.

Thanks to Warren for the factory refinishing guide.

I have been warned by others, and thankfully so, of powder paints ability to fade in UV.

Well, here's some cool stuff I found...

After talking with my paint guy about it, he recommended I go see a friend of his that does good work. Turns out he owns a business that makes ornimental iron and he powder coats the stuff. Also does car parts as sort of a side job, but his attention to detail and good work have gotten him almost as much business there as well. I looked as his samples and asked about the UV thing. There are additives they put in to make the stuff last outside and since he builds iron railings he is well aware of the procedures and incorporates them in his work. He also can add any kind of texture into the paint and showed me samples of this as well. There is something very close to what I think the Targa bar is supposed to look like. So, I guess I'm going to be the guinney pig and see if this works. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

tstan · 03-29-2002, 07:40 AM

Having the same problem with my door handles and window trim. Be real interested to see how yours comes out.

rcilurso · rcilurso's Garage

Yeah I'm just so sick of putting paint on the roll bar. It lasts for about a year then starts to thin where the top meets it. Door handles have always been a lil faded. Those and all the moulding are going to get shot in the non-textured semi-gloss black.

Leland Pate · 03-29-2002, 10:55 AM

Rj,
Also very interested in this!

If you are happy with the outcome... ask him if he takes Mail Orders!

I'll send him my bar, door handles, outer door sill tops, and wiper arms!

Oh, and welcome back LT.

targa4me · 03-29-2002, 03:12 PM

Should work out fine if the P/C knows what he is doing.

Thats how a lot of them are being done down under and they work out fine.

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

I had my wheels powder coated-the whole wheel and after 6 months of being outdoors, they still look great. Same goes with the rear grill on the duck tail, the wiper arms, and the front grill(vent) below front winshield. They would not do the door handles because they were afraid what the bead blasting and the chemical washes would do to them. So, I sanded them for a few hours, etched them, primed them with zinc oxide and then sprayed them with some trim paint. Still look great.

grsilvia · 03-29-2002, 03:23 PM

RJ,
I had my Techart wheels powder coated black last year and the finish still looks like it did the day I picked them up. I live in N. Ca. so they never see snow/salt just occasional rain.

The company is Powder Craft-Ugly Jugs in Rocklin, Ca. and I paid $80 per wheel for sandblasting and powder coating.

http://www.uglyjugs.com/home.htm

Aim High,
Gary
90 C2 Cab

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 03-29-2002, 04:05 PM

Hmmm...I seem to remember somebody posting recently that if "your" powdercoater had a lot of lawn furniture and ornamental railing sitting around, run in the other direction; that these are not people, typically, who understand automotive powdercoating needs.

I know nothing about powdercoating; just repeating what I read here...

Stephan

Peter Kelly · 03-29-2002, 05:08 PM

FWI I have a lot of parts powder coated in my business, Competition Data Systems. Last week I took my roll bar over there to be powder coated, and talked at length with the business owner.

He basically told me; epoxy base powder coat= good for chemical resistance but Very bad for UV resistance

Polyester based paints are the preferred for uv protection

Oldporsche · 03-29-2002, 05:17 PM

In the next few weeks, I'll be experimenting with door handles. I have some from wrecks that look like they'll be good candidates for powder painting.

I suspect that I will dechrome them. I wll next probably zinc chromate them. At that point I will probably powder paint them. I will be happy to post the results.

I have a local industrial plater that will allow me to send him small pieces that he can throw into a large industrial batch of work.

I think that the outcome will be very good.

I hope you are all having a good day.

Good luck,

David Duffield

bob hodges · 03-29-2002, 10:28 PM

I had my fan and shroud powder coated. I am sending out the tin around the engine out for powder coating. The process looks great.

Bob 80SC

WydRyd · 04-07-2002, 10:22 PM

Can the fan and fan housing be powder coated in a chrome finish? I want it to compliment my polished aluminium intercooler and polished S.S intake pipes.

Doug Zielke · 04-08-2002, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by grsilvia
RJ,
I had my Techart wheels powder coated black last year and the finish still looks like it did the day I picked them up. I live in N. Ca. so they never see snow/salt just occasional rain.

The company is Powder Craft-Ugly Jugs in Rocklin, Ca. and I paid $80 per wheel for sandblasting and powder coating.

http://www.uglyjugs.com/home.htm

I've had some Powder Coating done by Ugly Jugs.
They specialize in custom work for m/c's and hot rods.
They understood some issues my local p/c'er did not.
Good work. Reasonable prices. Respected my parts when sending back and forth by UPS.