Powder coating or Stove enamelling?
I have noticed there is a lack of knowledge about powder coating on many forums. I have a powder coating company, and I would like to powder coat all your frames. Knowing other companies will benefit from my efforts, I would rather spread helpful information about powder coating in a factual way, rather than hard sell, which is rightly frowned upon in forums.
Hopefully you will find it useful and be wiling to try a better method of painting your frame. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them.
I have copied the following from one of the pages on my site. If you want to know how to prepare your frame for powder coating then you might like to go on this link.
http://www.windridge.co.uk/content.php/410
What is the difference between powder coating and Stove enamelling?
Windridge Coatings used to apply stove enamelling, but stopped because of the following. If the following reason where good enough commercial reasons for us to move to powder coating, you may feel the same.
Stove enamelling
Stove enamelling is like any normal air-drying paint, but the curing is accelerated by stoving at 120 degrees Celsius. It is sprayed with the sort of spray guns you would expect to see spraying a car in a garage.
Excellent finishes can be achieved as each coat can be flattened (rubbed down smooth prior to the next coat, this reduces orange peel).
It is easier to mask and paint over with a different colour, something very difficult to achieve with powder coating.
Powder Coating
Application equipment for powder coating is more expensive. The gun alone can cost £4500. The paint is purchased as a powder, hence the name. It is temporarily stuck to the metal with an electrostatic attraction. (In the same way as you rub a balloon on your jumper and watch it stick to a wall, the granules of powder stick to the work piece). The oven is more expensive because it has to heat the component to about 200 degrees Celsius.
Why is powder coating better?
Powder coating done properly is tougher than stove enamelling. This means it will take more of a beating.
There are no solvents used during the application and so it is environmentally greener.
It produces a more waterproof barrier than liquid paint (for comparable thickness) and therefore offers better protection against corrosion.
To hide metal imperfections, a Powder coating finish can achieve in three coats, what stove enamelling requires in 10 or more coats.
Therefore the price is comparable, or even cheaper than stove enamelling.
Powder coating does not scratch or mark any easier than enamelling.
Powder coating can be compounded, polished and waxed like any other paint.
Where can I get a good powder coating job done?
It is another case of you get what you pay for. The powder coating industry suffers from the cowboy element just like any other industry.
Only go to a company that will ensure the component is grit blasted.
Ideally the frame should be chemically pre-treated to reduce corrosion.
One coat of powder is not enough it should have a primer.
Do not allow an aluminium frame to be stripped of a powder coating by blasting alone. It will end up pitted.
It must be chemically stripped first.
If in doubt ask to see some of their work.