I am looking at restoring my std rims, paint or powder coat ?? I want it nice and glossy

cheers Dan

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

I used to be a Plant Engineer in the pallet storage and conveyor industry (Dexion). Racks, frames etc were cleaned, phosphate treated, then powder coated in our $3M facility.
Powder coat works fine for indoors use. When put outdoors in the weather, the colours faded, then adhesion failed at edges and the powder coat peeled off in sheets.
For wheels or subframes etc, I would stick with real paint...! Not paint powder.
Maybe results are better now, but check it out first.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Ok thanks Doc, need a place to blast and paint in a hurry...

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

I had mine done here but I dropped them off so not sure what transport would cost from up north. There should be a similar place up there. They stripped them, repaired them, primed and then painted in correct silver birch metallic. Had no issues after nearly ten years.

http://www.newaywheelrepairs.com.au/profile.html

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

Powder coating is fine for wheels, but make sure they are using good powder coating. Quality varies a lot. Ask what the warranty is provided by the powder coating manufacturer.

Doc, I think the powder coating you are talking about may have been non warranty grade. It's cheaper and is fine indoors. Bright colours (the racking we have at work is orange) are harder to make durable in the sun, especially in Australia in our UV.

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Lindsay Palmer
06 Mazda SP23
80 Alfa GTV (weekend toy)
86 626 Turbo (daily drive, now stolen)
71 cooper s replica
69 cooper replica
76 clubman
62 english 850
68 Mini Auto

Its a fallacy that powdercoat always fades outdoors. Its just like paint, some does, some doesn't. Just like paint there are heaps of different formulations. Its very widely used on fences and aluminium window frames and they last for years in the sun.

I had the roll bar and bumpers on my Moke done by a guy that specialises in fences and they still look great, 10 or more years later.

On the other hand I had the sunraysia wheels done by someone else and I've never been particulalrly happy with it. They must have used the wrong stuff because it crazed where the spokes flex. Powdercoat is applied electrostatically so it doesn't always throw properly into tight corners, like where the wheel centres meet the rim (and pinholes are hopeless). Once its applied it is heated to melt and fuse the powder particles. The problem is that it can do that again later if the part gets hot. I had a problem with my handbrake locking on which caused the brake on one side to heat up. When I went to take the wheel off it had melted to the hub. The powdercoat on that wheel has never been the same again.

So I'm a big fan of it on things that don't move or get hot, but wouldn't use it on wheels again.
Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Had my wheels powder coated.
When they are heated, the air between the rim centre and the outer expands and comes out through little bubbles that leave little creators in the powdercoat.
They advised me that I need to get a little brush and paint down in the holes to seal them so that water does not get in a cause rust.

I'd have them painted next time.

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