| I prefer powder coating, simply because it's more durable. My wheels have been done now nearly three years and afetr 10k there's still not a mark on them.
2 pack is like/similar to any other sprayed paint. The paint is mixed with a hardener and then sprayed on the frame, car whatever.
Powder coating is done by covering the frame in the powder, using electrostatic charge to keep it on there and the whole thing is then baked in an oven until the powder melts, coating the frame. When it's cooled off it looks like paint but is usually thicker and more durable.
The other thing with powder is that because it's a lot thicker than normal paint is that the preparation doesn't have to be anything special. Usually a shot blasting is all that is needed. When the powder melts, it covers all the irregularities and dries smooth.
The only "downside" is that every last hole and thread needs masking else your into many a happy hour with the taps, scrapers and files!! Bigger areas are masked with blasting tape then hi-temp masking tape.
The powder coaters I use have about 140 colours available. I think you'd be into about £150 for a frame and arm, wheels are about £100 per pair + the VAT. You need to allow for bearings etc after that.
In my previous life, the company I worked for were playing with the latest powders including metallic and pearls..................don't know how they have come on though, but they were very impressive.  |