Powder coat or paint suspension parts ?

Post Sat Nov 14, 2015 3:25 pm

What's best ? anyone done either and have thoughts to share ? From what I've read 2 pack painted seems less liable to chip and is better long term.

Post Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:50 pm

Powdercoat is old tech. Epoxy paint is the way to go now.

Post Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:04 pm

I use 2K epoxy, on all chassis and undercarriage repairs. I have also done my fair share of powder coating, the epoxy primers and topcoats I now use, are fair better for abrasion protection and corrosion prevention.

Cheers

Post Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:46 pm

Interesting. Anyone know a good place in the south east that can paint a load of new parts in the correct satin black and also blast clean old parts that need to be reused like the front struts, both subframes and trailing arms ?

Post Sun Nov 15, 2015 11:32 am

Where about in the south east are you? There are some good blading firms around, A&C blasting in ticehurst are good at intricate objects.

Post Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:21 pm

Had a look at their website but seems they only do blasting and no wet painting. Really want someone who can safely blast suspension items and paint without blasting the bearing races and masking it up correctly. Some place as close to North Kent would be good, but can travel for a known good place.

Post Sun Nov 15, 2015 4:00 pm

I always prepare ( mask up & protect) the vunerable areas like bearing races & threaded parts properly before getting parts blasted, i would never expect the blasting company to be responsible for protecting those areas, way too risky imo.

Post Sun Nov 15, 2015 4:09 pm

HairyScreech wrote:Powdercoat is old tech. Epoxy paint is the way to go now.

Hmm, interesting.

Post Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:26 am

A casting customer of ours has reported really good real world results with this:
http://www.metalrescue.com/home.aspx

Not had a chance to try it myself yet.

Otherwise for things like trailing arms and stub axles I have always left the bearings in or the inner races on. Saves on masking and is 100% going to protect the critical faces.

For the front struts the bearing inners can be knocked out of the hubs and put back onto the stub axle to protect it without making it too hard to blast.

Post Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:48 am

i'll be honest, when i had my front struts & rear beam & trailing arms blasted i painted them in hammerite anti rust paint as i have done on previous car parts over the years,

never had any problems with it either.

might have a look at that "metal rescue" stuff to see if it's any good.

Post Mon Nov 16, 2015 12:48 pm

steve_k wrote:i'll be honest, when i had my front struts & rear beam & trailing arms blasted i painted them in hammerite anti rust paint as i have done on previous car parts over the years,

never had any problems with it either.

might have a look at that "metal rescue" stuff to see if it's any good.

I have not had a chance to play with the stuff yet but I know it works as a customer has been cleaning up steel castings with it (6 weeks on the sea and no anti-rust oil allowed).

Don't know how well it works on heavy rust but anything only surface deep seems to be fine.

Post Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:57 pm

Blast and 2k paint. Ive wasted so much time and money powdercoating its junk, i spent 10 years in the restoration game and powdercoating is ok for hot climates but on the uk roads no matter who does it it just doesnt last. Blast, etch & 2k paint i mixed clearcoat into my 2k, 2 parts 2k 1 part clear just to keep everything glossy and well protected for years to come.