Powder coating

[netty2424]

I'm going to get an SS swing powder coated, and possibly have a few other parts done at the same time. I have not had anything powder coated before, so I had a couple questions to make sure Ill be taking the right steps and using the right people.

How is it priced?
About what would a swing arm cost?
Are there various types/methods of powder coating?
Any other questions I should ask the powder coasters about their process that they might skip or add for cost purposes, etc?

 

[JOEL9]

Most places have a "lot" charge (minimum). My buddys pc busniess has an 80 dollar lot charge. a swingarm ,some bars & s siderails for him would fall into that "lot charge" catagory, if they were all the same color. Powder coating uses heat (400 degrees or so) most ues a wash line to clean & de-grease the part, them bake it to dry, apply the pc then bake again. do you have a powdercoater you looking at? i'd call them or take the parts in and ask them how much.

 

[netty2424]

Thanks Joel. No I haven't spoken with anyone yet.

I've had the parts for awhile just putting the project off, but im down right now waiting on a new banjo bolt to deliver for my rear caliper. I was out mowing the yard today and had to add line to the weed eater. So I sat down to do that by my bike and noticed a drop of oil on the ground. Well after inspection, it's coming from one of the oil line fittings underneath.

Soooooooo, I guess since I'll need to work on those two things, why not tackle the project with a few things already torn apart!

I've sanded a good portion of the swing arm down as it had some scratches. Figured I'd get that pc'd along with my frame rails, primary, and possibly my triple all done since I was going to be at the pc. I'd love to pc my forks, but I don't know how or want to break them down and rebuild them.

 

[snrusnak]

I had some parts coated recently and like said above there's a minimum charge for each color. So if I wanted to do one bolt in black and one bolt in silver it would probably cost like $50-$100 per bolt.

I had my front master cylinder and cover and clutch lever perch done in black and the triple trees and fairing stay done in silver for like $160. He does very good work, tapes all areas not to be coated(some people don't do this and you have to then sand the coating off to fit bearings in, etc). He sand blasted the parts then cleans them then coats them then bakes them.

I'm also getting my wheels done in a few weeks and he emailed me a quote without seeing the wheels and said ~$100 each wheel.

Just make sure what you bring them has everything taken apart(don't bring in wheels with bearings still in them, etc) then talk to them to make sure they won't forget to tape areas where bearings go or things like that. With the swing arm you want to make sure they don't get sand or powder inside the swingarm(since it's the oil reservoir).

I've found powder coating to be actually very affordable, and it is extremely durable. Find a good shop, don't go to some guy that just started doing it and is working in his garage...

 

[snrusnak]

I can get you the manufacturer and color that we used it is a VERY close match to the factory silver color. I'll post pics and that info later tongiht.

Also, with the lower fork legs you'd have to separate the steel tube from the aluminum and it could possibly then leak when reassembled. I just bought new ones and it really wasn't very expensive. If you did the upper tubes, you'd have some trouble sliding them into the triples(not that it's impossible).

 

[snrusnak]

It is Tiger Drylac Bengal Silver, and here's a few pics so you can see how close it matches. Looks about 99% perfect IMO.

 

[netty2424]

Thanks for the info and pics snrusnak. I am going to stay with the darker charcoal color of my current frame. I hate how they painted the primary that ugly pewter looking color. An eye sore in my opinion.

 

[netty2424]

Btw, your color match is spot on!

 

[snrusnak]

No prob, I guess I just assume everyone has a silver frame lol.