Powder Coating - Ouality?

I've just copied this from my other thread to get better exposure here.
I've picked up my main frame spar yesterday from powder coaters. On close inspection, it seems to me like this is orange peeled. Is this normal, should it be smooth flat colour?
Images on the web of other frames don't really go close enough to pick out such detail, but I don't want to 'phone them up and say "This needs re-stripping and re-coating" if they're all like this. Googling powder coat problems though does mention orange peel a lot.

Re:

Some bits I had done for a kit car many years ago was like that. Didn’t bother me as it was chassis parts etc. I’ve had a few mtb parts done by somewhere else and they’ve always been smooth and looked nearly as good as wet paint. Never had a frame powder coated as always gone for wet paint

Just noticed a dent too, and a bleb.
I might get them to strip it back again, then I can take charge of it myself, fill the dent and cable gouges myself and paint it myself.
This restoration business is difficult.

Supratada":1b4u9k0x said:

Just noticed a dent too, and a bleb.
I might get them to strip it back again, then I can take charge of it myself, fill the dent and cable gouges myself and paint it myself.
This restoration business is difficult.

Click to expand...

I have been researching this powder coating lark,and I am now planning to strip and paint it myself.I have discovered they now do 2k paint that has a hardener in a spray can.So plan to give it a go.I know you have to have a good mask on and be well ventilated as the stuff is quite dangerous to breath in.

I thought you couldn't buy 2K anymore. I know they don't use it on cars anymore, due to teh environmentz, so now they cover each new car is thin white plastic sticky sheets to protect the paint. I'm sure that's perfectly green.

Re:

A previous frame I had painted in silver was the same finish as yours. However I changed who I used and have had 2 x sets of motorbike wheels powder coated in satin black along with a recent orange clockwork frame and finish is great. Smooth just like wet paint.
I’ll attach a pic below of close up of the clockwork and there’s NO orange peel at all.

I’m guessing that it all depends on the metals condition before PC along with what they use to blast it with. I get the impression that the later PC I’m now using uses finer beads so it doesn’t leave any marks in the metal?

Might be worth speaking to your PC or finding another company, especially one that does alloy wheels as they tend to ensure a flawless finish rather than those that PC industrial equipment where the close up finish ain’t as important.

Hope this helps.... Andy

Re:

I prefer PC over wet paint and I always think that if it’s a good PC then it’s difficult to tell if WP or PC.

It is a wheel company. Romax in Stockton. They've asked me to bring it back in again as they've admitted it should be smooth. Though why they couldn't check that themselves I don't know.
Nice finish on that C16. That's how I imagine PC should look. Silver is worse for showing faults though in the underlying metal.

Re:

I’ve used Romax (set up by two guys called Rob and Max!)in past on car wheel’s but no.... the place I use now is The Wheel Company in Seaham.
Much better IMHO and Drew who works there is awesome!

Powder coating quality can vary massively. Getting farm gates & chassis parts done is one thing, but needing a good finish on an enthusiasts bike frame is another. The technology has come on leaps & bounds in recent years but it still requires the operator to have the skills, patience & correct up to date equipment to achieve good results. My local coater actually setup in business as an offshoot of their electronics firm. The have electrical cabinets made which weren't being coated to high enough standards. Now its a standalone company specialising in high quality powder coating with a great reputation, though they aren't cheap or quick.

I've had 3 frames done in last few years, always a stunning job. One was stripped & re-coated twice I think as they weren't happy.








PCL in Bridgwater (Somerset)