Powder coat or not to powdercoat?

fxroar · 01-02-2010, 03:29 PM

Well.. I've been debating whether to powdercoat the 19" rays for quite sometime. It would be awesome to match the color of the car, but after doing some research, I'm starting to doubt the powder coating processes. Drivers claimed the finished wheel being weaker than what they originally had due to the baking process - where the heat cycle changes the grain structure on the metal. Any inputs other than getting myself new rims? lol

NewlyIMPORTed · 01-02-2010, 04:24 PM

get them painted

Jjaden · 01-02-2010, 06:56 PM

Powdercoat. I've done it and had no complaints at all and love the look.

If my car can handle having the rims powdercoated and then being totally fine in -18', I doubt you have anything to worry about as long as you go to a knowledgeable guy.

RCZ · 01-02-2010, 07:25 PM

My forged STI wheels more or less cracked in half after powdercoating them...

fxroar · 01-02-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

My forged STI wheels more or less cracked in half after powdercoating them...

Did they compensate for your loss? Did the shop inform you the temperature the rims was held? Maybe the shop did not do proper soaking on the rims?

AHHHH!!! This is driving me nuts. Need more feedback pleaseee.

RCZ · 01-03-2010, 02:12 AM

My girlfriend at the time surprised me with them when I was of town. I came back home and had amazing (read brittle) wheels on my car. It was awesome.

Mike · 01-03-2010, 05:29 AM

RCZs is the first firsthand case I have heard of that anyone actually had any damage from powdercoating, every other story has been anecdotal. I would like to know more about the damage please RCZ, as I have powdercoated many sets of wheels without problems, including my own wheels that I use on the track in both my corvette and 370. Many wheel companies are powdercoating them right out of the factory.

How did they crack when they did?

vortrex · 01-03-2010, 01:19 PM

I talked to my local powdercoater (who is a car guy, does lots of wheels) and he said there would be no issue. he says they would not use the "bake-off" oven to remove the existing finish, since that does get substantially hotter than the powdercoat oven. he said a metallurgist had tested some wheels he had coated before and there was no issue.

fxroar · 01-03-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortrex

I talked to my local powdercoater (who is a car guy, does lots of wheels) and he said there would be no issue. he says they would not use the "bake-off" oven to remove the existing finish, since that does get substantially hotter than the powdercoat oven. he said a metallurgist had tested some wheels he had coated before and there was no issue.

Good to hear!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

RCZs is the first firsthand case I have heard of that anyone actually had any damage from powdercoating, every other story has been anecdotal. I would like to know more about the damage please RCZ, as I have powdercoated many sets of wheels without problems, including my own wheels that I use on the track in both my corvette and 370. Many wheel companies are powdercoating them right out of the factory.

How did they crack when they did?

I'm interested also! Please tell the juicy detailsss

RCZ · 01-03-2010, 03:53 PM

Sure, I mean I'm not saying it will happen to all of them or that there isnt a right and a wrong way to do it. I like the fact that you didnt get defensive Mike so I'll share to help figure out what went wrong.

It happened to these style wheel.

This was done as a gift so I have no idea how they were done, but I know it wasnt the first or the last set (she also had an STI and had her own set done later and as far as I know they are still fine, not sure if they were done in the same place, but i think so)

This was in Boston where it gets really cold so that may have something to do with it. Also there were a ton of potholes, but it didnt happen over there, it happened here in Miami...where there are no potholes. Car did see track time and therefore high temps from the brakes...

The spokes started going one by one near the center until more or less all of them were broken or cracked.

So yeah the wheels went through a lot of stress, however you should know that the Stock forged STI wheels are extremely strong and I had never seen anyone else's wheels crack like that. I do think it was related...but I'm not saying it will happen to everyone.

Mike · 01-03-2010, 06:24 PM

yea, I wasn't doubting you at all or saying it couldn't happen, I just have never experienced it firsthand, nor known anyone who had, so I am really interested, especially as a professional powdercoater.

I think what is most probable, is what vortrex alluded to above, and that is they were prepped by using a burn off oven, which gets them to 700-900 degrees for couple hours, and that definitely could weaken them.

fxroar · 01-04-2010, 01:20 AM

I'll just go ahead and go for it. Now I just need a good reputable powder coater in SoCal. I'll end up powder coating the rims.. and possibly just getting the door handles painted black to match the blacked out headlights by MRWORKS. Thanks everyone for your feedbacks!

motoextreme · 01-04-2010, 01:28 AM

Used to be a great guy called Sundial Powdercoating up in the Pico area. They did all the wheels, frames and swingarms for my shop back in the day. Not some hack shop that forgets to pull out bearings or fill holes.

Just make sure you're really careful with your lug holes and air valve, the extra coating may not allow your studs to fit through. We used to put old bolts in any threaded holes but wont be the case with wheels. If you go to a good shop they should know.

PS. Let us know who you end up using. I have a bunch of brackets and the frame for my new Fairlady Roadster package that I need to get done in a month or so, first I need to get the frame welded to make room for the new engine.

Good luck and lets see pics when its done.

fxroar · 01-05-2010, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoextreme

Used to be a great guy called Sundial Powdercoating up in the Pico area. They did all the wheels, frames and swingarms for my shop back in the day. Not some hack shop that forgets to pull out bearings or fill holes.

Just make sure you're really careful with your lug holes and air valve, the extra coating may not allow your studs to fit through. We used to put old bolts in any threaded holes but wont be the case with wheels. If you go to a good shop they should know.

PS. Let us know who you end up using. I have a bunch of brackets and the frame for my new Fairlady Roadster package that I need to get done in a month or so, first I need to get the frame welded to make room for the new engine.

Good luck and lets see pics when its done.

+1. Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks! This is something that I will definitely won't jump into until I find the right shop. I don't care if it takes month! Haha

fxroar · 01-05-2010, 11:48 PM

Alrighttt. There's this place called San Diego Powdercoat right around Santee. The guy was very friendly. He showed me around the shop and also all the available colors I can powder coat my rims. I wanted to do two different colors.. such as Red lip and everything else misty lava. But he said it's not a good idea since almost all the time.. the colors tend to ooze down and get all over each other. Is that true?

Also, he quoted me $113 per rim with misty lava. Is that reasonable?

This is the first place I went to and will be looking for others depending on how much it trully costs and if two colors is doable!

01-02-2010, 03:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
fxroar Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 525 Drives: '10 40th Anniversary Rep Power: 17	Powder coat or not to powdercoat? Well.. I've been debating whether to powdercoat the 19" rays for quite sometime. It would be awesome to match the color of the car, but after doing some research, I'm starting to doubt the powder coating processes. Drivers claimed the finished wheel being weaker than what they originally had due to the baking process - where the heat cycle changes the grain structure on the metal. Any inputs other than getting myself new rims? lol __________________ Fast Intentions / K&N / Blox / Evo-R / Uprev / Forgestar 19" F14 / R40 / NST / Z1 / SDCE / H&R / Kenwood / ISS Forged 20" FM10R

01-02-2010, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
NewlyIMPORTed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 1,109 Drives: 11 STI Sedan Rep Power: 18	get them painted __________________ 2011 WRX STICobb Accessport, Nameless Performance exhaust, COBB SF Intake, COBB downpipe, 20% tint, Work Emotion XD9's

01-03-2010, 02:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	My girlfriend at the time surprised me with them when I was of town. I came back home and had amazing (read brittle) wheels on my car. It was awesome. Last edited by RCZ; 01-03-2010 at 02:17 AM.

01-03-2010, 05:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	RCZs is the first firsthand case I have heard of that anyone actually had any damage from powdercoating, every other story has been anecdotal. I would like to know more about the damage please RCZ, as I have powdercoated many sets of wheels without problems, including my own wheels that I use on the track in both my corvette and 370. Many wheel companies are powdercoating them right out of the factory. How did they crack when they did? __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

01-03-2010, 06:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	yea, I wasn't doubting you at all or saying it couldn't happen, I just have never experienced it firsthand, nor known anyone who had, so I am really interested, especially as a professional powdercoater. I think what is most probable, is what vortrex alluded to above, and that is they were prepped by using a burn off oven, which gets them to 700-900 degrees for couple hours, and that definitely could weaken them. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

01-02-2010, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jjaden Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 821 Drives: 370Z/MAT SILVER/6MT Rep Power: 17	Powdercoat. I've done it and had no complaints at all and love the look. If my car can handle having the rims powdercoated and then being totally fine in -18', I doubt you have anything to worry about as long as you go to a knowledgeable guy.

01-02-2010, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	My forged STI wheels more or less cracked in half after powdercoating them...

01-03-2010, 01:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
vortrex Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SF, CA Posts: 199 Drives: '09 370z 6spd Rep Power: 16	I talked to my local powdercoater (who is a car guy, does lots of wheels) and he said there would be no issue. he says they would not use the "bake-off" oven to remove the existing finish, since that does get substantially hotter than the powdercoat oven. he said a metallurgist had tested some wheels he had coated before and there was no issue.

01-03-2010, 03:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Sure, I mean I'm not saying it will happen to all of them or that there isnt a right and a wrong way to do it. I like the fact that you didnt get defensive Mike so I'll share to help figure out what went wrong. It happened to these style wheel. This was done as a gift so I have no idea how they were done, but I know it wasnt the first or the last set (she also had an STI and had her own set done later and as far as I know they are still fine, not sure if they were done in the same place, but i think so) This was in Boston where it gets really cold so that may have something to do with it. Also there were a ton of potholes, but it didnt happen over there, it happened here in Miami...where there are no potholes. Car did see track time and therefore high temps from the brakes... The spokes started going one by one near the center until more or less all of them were broken or cracked. So yeah the wheels went through a lot of stress, however you should know that the Stock forged STI wheels are extremely strong and I had never seen anyone else's wheels crack like that. I do think it was related...but I'm not saying it will happen to everyone.

01-04-2010, 01:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
fxroar Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 525 Drives: '10 40th Anniversary Rep Power: 17	I'll just go ahead and go for it. Now I just need a good reputable powder coater in SoCal. I'll end up powder coating the rims.. and possibly just getting the door handles painted black to match the blacked out headlights by MRWORKS. Thanks everyone for your feedbacks! __________________ Fast Intentions / K&N / Blox / Evo-R / Uprev / Forgestar 19" F14 / R40 / NST / Z1 / SDCE / H&R / Kenwood / ISS Forged 20" FM10R

01-04-2010, 01:28 AM	#13 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 369	Used to be a great guy called Sundial Powdercoating up in the Pico area. They did all the wheels, frames and swingarms for my shop back in the day. Not some hack shop that forgets to pull out bearings or fill holes. Just make sure you're really careful with your lug holes and air valve, the extra coating may not allow your studs to fit through. We used to put old bolts in any threaded holes but wont be the case with wheels. If you go to a good shop they should know. PS. Let us know who you end up using. I have a bunch of brackets and the frame for my new Fairlady Roadster package that I need to get done in a month or so, first I need to get the frame welded to make room for the new engine. Good luck and lets see pics when its done. __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

01-05-2010, 11:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
fxroar Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 525 Drives: '10 40th Anniversary Rep Power: 17	Alrighttt. There's this place called San Diego Powdercoat right around Santee. The guy was very friendly. He showed me around the shop and also all the available colors I can powder coat my rims. I wanted to do two different colors.. such as Red lip and everything else misty lava. But he said it's not a good idea since almost all the time.. the colors tend to ooze down and get all over each other. Is that true? Also, he quoted me $113 per rim with misty lava. Is that reasonable? This is the first place I went to and will be looking for others depending on how much it trully costs and if two colors is doable! __________________ Fast Intentions / K&N / Blox / Evo-R / Uprev / Forgestar 19" F14 / R40 / NST / Z1 / SDCE / H&R / Kenwood / ISS Forged 20" FM10R

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