Powder coating

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When I started working on my XS2 frame, I was looking around at powder coaters in my area and it’s so hard to tell what shops will charge. All of the places around me seemed to specialize in industrial stuff or cars. Today I found this place and his website is so informative he has a very comprehensive price list posted. He has it broken down into categories, these screen shots are the motorcycle price list.
I’m curious if these prices are in line with others experience.
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I can't comment on powder coating Bob..... never had it done. About all I can add to the discussion is that 230 bucks to media blast and paint a frame strikes me as a pretty good deal. If I was in your shoes... I'd seriously consider it.
 
I also think it seems like a fair price, and powder coating gives undeniably nice results, but I have already bought the paint for the job and spent way too much time on prep to turn back now. Damn the torpedos! Full speed ahead! I just thought this might be of interest to others.
 
Just thought I'd chuck this in for comparison Bob.
My frame, swing arm and triple tree upper and lower to get blasted and painted in 2 pack was $400 Aud.
Going by you list above it would be $375.
Wheels, fork lowers, side stand and battery holder, again blast & paint, another $400.
Your list $378.

Mind you that doesn't take into consideration the percentage of cost against the value of the bike from one country to another, here in Aus I guess $800 would be approx 10% of my bikes value now.
 
While I like the look of powder coating I like the ability to touch up and make changes as I go. The one dirt bike frame I had powder coated ended up cracking and needing to be gusseted and painted anyway.
 
$285.00 for a frame and swing arm including mediablasting and prep is a give away! The one for the no theme build was $280 but I did the prep myself. The hammered finish I use does cost a little more but not that much. If he specializes in motorcycles he probably has a good idea of what holes to plug and threads to mask. I`m curious as to what his prices are for exhaust systems. Ceramic chrome finish is a good way to go on exh. :thumbsup:
 
The frame prices look good. The parts pricing looks a bit high,but not bad. I just had a Rs100 frame quoted from a guy here for $150. Then all the bits and pieces about 75 more. He did not break them down by each part. One thing you can ask him is do they prime first. Its a good idea to have them prime then coat. Some places coat over bare metal. I have had frames done this way and they are holding up very well so it would not hold me back from using them especially in your dry climate. A lot of places dont have blasting in house, if they do it can save big time. Also I would clean the parts very well. They like that when you bring them in. Ask him if you get a slight discount if they are clean when he gets them.
 
Back to where you're at now...…………..you have the paint...………..didn't understand why you are wet sanding with fine grit paper. Enamel doesn't like to be sprayed on a very SMOOTH surface. Three coats of enamel will lay down and create its own smooth surface. You would do better by wire wheeling the bad areas and sanding with FAST CUTTING 80 to 100 grit paper, all of the old enamel does not need to be removed, even if it was blasted. 80 to 100 grit would be IDEAL for enamel.

On another hand, a compressor from HF would be less than $150, a blaster would be less than $30, you don't need the tank, a 5 gallon pail works great. A blasting cabinet can be had from some old clothes washing machines. When you're done you'll have a bare clean frame, a compressor and a blasting cabinet with blaster.

Scott
 
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I've mentioned before, DIY. You can buy all the stuff at HF. Powder Coat Store on eBay. This is if you have the room. I'm building a cabinet/oven to fit frames in. I need to get that finished. Its been 6 months sitting in the corner. Haha! Like everything else, there's a YouTube video DIY ovens. I've been using an electric oven I found sitting on a curb. Junk. I've done wheels and all the small stuff. Powder runs about $20 lb. I've done wheels and all the small mounts and brackets with less than a lb. For one bike. You guys are smart. Powder coating is easy. It's beneath your skill level. If you have the room, do it! I'm looking into DIY wet blast/vapor blast cabinet now. I've been using Menards coal type media.
 
There is a lot of competition in the UK regarding powder coating. I recently had a Virago frame grit blasted, powder coated black then coated clear to give a high gloss. All this cost £120. The place I used is 4 miles from my home so I had not transportation cost either.

Note: Castle Coatings in Caerphilly, South Wales.
 
I powder coat all the time and I pay $300 for a frame that gets dipped to clean off all paint and powder coat. $75 a fender is high but if you give the guy more than one part they will give you a bulk deal. This bike here that I am finishing up has $1500 in powder coating.
 

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Just as a comparison in Canada. I paid 320 CDN which is about 240 usd to blast and powder coat my frame, swingarm, batterybox, engine mounts and a few other small odds and ends. Did a great job and much more durable than paint. Would not hesitate to do it again. Well worth the money and frankly worth not having to spend the time and energy to strip and paint it on my own.
 
Canuck1969 - I totally agree. Originally I was going to paint my frame but the final top coating was defective i.e. water contaminated. That cost me about £70 for everything. Wish I had investigate powder coatings first. Will never paint another frame myself now.
 
....and much more durable than paint.

May be if you do it at home but would disagree if you have it painted using professional materials and application.
IMO powder coating doesn't look as good as a quality paint job which in my experience will stand up to knocks and scratches much better + you can repair paint a lot easier.
 
A great place in my area charged me about 140$ to do my frame (CB750F), and about 450$ total for everything on the bike that needed it. Those prices quoted are very high.
 
Are you guys serious it's just a motorcycle frame . and powder coating is just another spin on paint another way to apply it it saves on volatile ...pollution. but it's just PAINT. It will scratch fade etc most frames I've ever seen just wiping with lacquer thinner I had another couple of coats it's just a frame. Some people think it's akin two plating or an anodizing . It's just paint electrostatic we attached and baked. But if you have a lot of prep work to do and I will media blast it and paint it that could save you a bunch of hours but I've never seen motorcycle frame but I would buy but needed to be media blaster
 
Are you guys serious it's just a motorcycle frame . and powder coating is just another spin on paint another way to apply it it saves on volatile ...pollution. but it's just PAINT. It will scratch fade etc most frames I've ever seen just wiping with lacquer thinner I had another couple of coats it's just a frame. Some people think it's akin two plating or an anodizing . It's just paint electrostatic we attached and baked. But if you have a lot of prep work to do and I will media blast it and paint it that could save you a bunch of hours but I've never seen motorcycle frame but I would buy but needed to be media blaster
Painting a frame the conventional way is a pain in the butt. Unless you have a rotisserie, you're likely to get a fair bit of overspray and orange peel. Since powder coating relies on the bake to flow, those problems are eliminated. And because it's a baked on epoxy or poly mix, it is more durable than conventional paints.
As far as being "just a frame"..... beauty counts on a restoration. ;)
 
sorry about all the voice to text errors. like i said tho its just a frame, i think a lot of people overthink stuff when theyre cooped up in the cold and snow. clean any rusty areas wire brush, soap and hot water, ospho, prime rattle can rustoleum, followed up by automotive clear lacquer if you worry about fuel leak attacking paint. fast easy, DIY. it will be hard to recoup any 500$ paintjobs, esp on the specials, which are not quite as "collectible" (yet).
 
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