So why isn't the internet awash with thousands of people complaining about their powder coated wheels disintegrating?
I don't think you would have an aluminum wheel left if you heated it to 600 Degrees. They Melt at 660.3 °C
Heating any metals will change the grain structure and their hardness values! The process should be controlled with slow up, hold at required temp, then slow cool down. It can be done but not by any old numb nut
I do personally think you will have no problems Powder coating a wheel...... But it's worth talking about if you are making it go 'A Bit Quick'
Agreed. I just think that we forumites need to be a bit careful when coming out with blanket statements to which we have little or no supporting evidence.
Here's a true story! A mate of mine sent his wheel away for powder coating with bearings still installed. Got the wheels back and in all the excitement of seeing his shinny wheels, refitted them without changing the bearings. Then wondered why his front wheel collapsed throwing him into the hedge and wrecking his bike (VFR 800).
The final part to the Story (which is all true) The bike was recovered and repaired but while being recovered the one and only key was lost! Repaired and returned un tested (honda hiss system and no key). He sold bike on eBay as a none runner.
Asin my first post there is no problem if done correctly but the first company I used wrecked me a set of wheels
There are several reasons for not powder coating wheels .. And without wanting to sound crass .. I have built motorcycles from scratch since I was about 18 years of age. Supporting evidence is fairly obvious given a little thought and knowledge .. as I said .don't want to sound crass .. I used to do it .. I did it several times .. Firstly .. when you powder coat a wheel the wheel is slung in an oven with fresh powder on it ..its hung upright .. and there is shift .. The powder shifts downward. Is someone going to go into the oven and rotate it? This can be minimal or catastrophic depending on who does it.. I have a triumph rear wheel that entered the process needing minor wheel balancing that now needs a full strip of weights to balance it. Secondly .. the alloy "gasses off" in the oven .. and the wheels SHOULD be pre-baked .. without powder to allow the gassing off .. then powder coated .. then baked. The problem with this is heat cycle to a lesser extent but to a greater extent even after having been done once .. its no guarantee it wont gas off when its been baked and cooled three times .. Again .. I had a Yamaha wheel that was baked once and still the coating went off. One of the best reasons .. I find is the chip and repair .. if you chip a powder coated wheel its right old grater its happened to be several times now .. and when you go to repair it .. the solvents in the paint attack and soften the surrounding powder coat making it able to be scrapped off with a thumbnail .. Also .. powder coat is not resilient .. its developed as a low cost coating for filing cabinets and ducting and **** like that .. not precision balanced items like motorcycle wheels .. I mean the idea of doing it on my 2010 blade .. no f_cking way pedro lol .. Get a powder coating wheel and spill a little break fluid on it .. and scrape it off with your finger .. two pack or water based and clearcote is actually tougher .. looks better. . better colour choice .. I could go on .. I don't even powder coat frames on resto bikes anymore .. paint then .. paint them all .. you powder coat look great when you first get it? Until your finger grease and oily hands soften the outer coating and dull the finish? If you doubt me .. I can send you picture of a wheel coating by a local reputable powder coater .. now ... its got slippage .. massive rebalancing .. gassed off in one place and totally softened the powder and stone chips that would have been repaired in paint with a touch up stick that is in effect a massive grater .. with a little paint at the bottom and softened powder all around .. they need doing again .. but the process of blasting them back causes more damage .. so they'll have to live without it. Like I said ..I can provide pictures Now you see the difference in a set of painted wheels .. Go round a bike hangout car park looking for wheels with huge amounts of lead holding them in balance .. some of them will have taking a whack maybe .. others will a have been powder coated .. many by people that knew what they were doing. Paint 'em boys '' paint 'em ..
