How many of you have used auto paint for your frames instead of powder coat?

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I'm on a budget and with all i wanted to get, powder coat is a little out of my financial reach right now. Just wondered if any other are out there in the same boat. Am I going to get heckled because my frame isn't powdered?


So Far I'm rebuilding the top end, lapping the valves, touching up and cleaning up any clutch levers, brake lever etc. New seat cover, new plastics and various things. Doing all this has exhausted my money supply and so i don't have the extra for powder coating at this time. I will do it in the future but do you guys think I should just sit on it for, who nows how long, and wait to get it powedered or go ahead and ride and enjoy it?

[outtaline]

It will work just scratch easier it looks better when new but wears out fast screw the guys that laugh these things were ment to ride or are you trying to make a show queen

[Tecate 50]

Mine is powder coated, there is pros and cons with powder coat. This stuff is thick and strong, but can be difficult when its time to reassemble, not to mention running a tap through everthing with threads. Do what you can and afford. My buddy has a top notch tecate with a painted frame. Hell it looks better than mine thats powder coated. My next build will be paint.....by far cheaper in materials, and in my opinion will probably be easier to work with.

[KASEY]

all my stuff is painted,,,, i use acrylic enamel ,, with hardner,,, works great for me,,,,,,,

[Daddio]

Everything of mine and 1upfronts is automotive paint. It works great, looks great and you can touch it up very easily if you get a scratch or chip. Just save some paint out before you put hardener in it. I usually use single stage urethane. Acrylic enamel works great also. For me it's the only way to go,.....I work in a bodyshop and I do all of my own painting. :D

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Thanks for the info and bout of confidence guys.

[NewfieBish]

I painted the frame of my old 200S, and I must say, it was really easy to do and lasted as well, the only thing about when i done it i used crappy paint, the paint that kasey and daddio used is defenitely better. I'm glad I seen this thread haha, cuz really soon im doin my 250R and i actually planned to use paint and do it myself as i dont have an oven or whatever, thanks for the ideas guys :p

[tecat-z]

I always use Martin Senior auto paint sprayed out of a gun. I've painted all of the 3wheeler frames around my area, except one.......:twisted: Powder is too hard and fractures easily with off road use. Paint tends too dent more when impacted. Powder is fine for on road use, but it's just so dam thick!!!! It also holds lots of heat, if used on engine and cooling related items. Quality paint is your best bet.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I'm just glad i'm not going to be an outcast because i don't make a gazillion a year and can get my stuff powder coated then when it gets a little nick, go get it powder coated again. At least with paint, i can touch it up. Mu 350 is slowly coming together. i'll have pics after it's done but i think you guys will like it. It's looking good.

I put the tecate on the back burner for now and i'm picking up parts here and there for it. People hoard T3 parts and you can't find anythng good anymore so the time it takes me to make my T3 half way decent, I will have time to build an entire 350x that will look and run great. To say i don't have deep pockets is a vast understatement.

[BigRed_Ryno]

I've not had much to do with powder coating, but from what people say its great, until it chips off and moisture gets under it? I dont know, i've not used it. I work for a company that constructs motorway gantries, which have a garranteed 25 year paint system, so the frames get the same treament (done 20 odd in the last 2 years for friends etc...) Shot-blast, Alu-metal spray (keys it down for primer) then the 2 pack/epoxy primer. Its a thick heavy paint, but with some wet & dry, and some elbow grease, it comes up lovely and flat, ready to prime and paint with automobile paint. It goes off VERY hard, and even if you did manage to chip it, it still doesn't rust, due to the Aluminium metal spray :D Sure the process takes a while, but we've yet to have any problems with it

[AutoXer]

I used krylon on mine did the prep and primer and paint and clear and it seems to be pretty hard (1/4 the cost of powder) I'm real happy with it. Yes if I was doing a show piece powder would be the only way to go for me but for a nice trail bike paint is fine

[WIkid500]

Mine is painted GM red with a clear coat. Sure it might chip a little easier but I plan on riding mine and that's what's going to happen. She's a show boat that's going to be ridden like the town tramp... Hard.

[SYKO]

all mine are auto paint

martin senour
except my racer it was HOK candle apple

all have held up well, while not as strong as powdercoat it still worked well


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/southgacustoms/atv%20parts/mytruck096.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/southgacustoms/100_1570.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/southgacustoms/100_1398.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/southgacustoms/100_1114.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/southgacustoms/MVC-886S.jpg

[oscarmayer]

yea, if it's a rider, then paint it, if it's a show peice, then powder it is what I have always done. cars are the same. if it was a used peice, we painted it, if it was for show, we powdered.

[Dirtcrasher]

I like paint just as well but you may find it close to the same cost. Good paint, hardner, reducer, primer, clear and all the other supplies can be costly.

Powder is NOT the forever coating some people feel it is, but it is nice though :D

[3Razors]

What are you guys paying to powder coat your frames? I pay $120 which includes sandblasting to bare metal. I couldn't come close to that with my time and materials spent on paint. I must be lucky. IMO powdercoating is the way to go, it is the most durable. All the factory race mx teams PC their frames too.

[BigRed_Ryno]

I cant put a figure really on what its cost to paint them, as the people that do it for me are all on a 'favours' basis. like tit for tat. But TBH, powder coating does seem like it'd be less hassle. I've recently sourced a contact that can get stuff powder coated onn the back hander, so i'll be sending some stuff up to him an i'll see what its like :D

[sunblock]

I use enamel with harder on all my restore projects. Done a couple FL350's but Haven't done my 250R yet. It holds up well. The initial costs are close, but if you use a good small detail spray gun you will have enough paint to do your entire frame several times over.

[hinddee29]

You could even use an industrial enamel or industrial epoxy they get pretty hard.
Could get it at your nearest sherwin williams. I'd say either this or an enamel with a hardner like stated before.

Make sure you where a respirator with an organic vapor filters. 3m makes a good one. These fillter have an open air time and if not being used should be kept in an air tight container. Or ziploc bag. Wouldn't use longer than 8 hrs. of open air time.

[mattcruff]

I'm with the last guy. I would use "sherwin williams industrial and marine coatings". I think the actual paint i used it called "acrolon 218" When it dries its hard as a rock. I used it to paint my car trailer, and we drag cars up with out wheels, and all kinds of stuff scrape it. I can tell you, it is some tough paint. And it sprays on pretty easy. Its a high build unlike automotive paint, so it doesnt run easy or anything.

[The Goat]

what is the original coatings on quads these days?

because I must say after 20 years...the frame on the 300 honda looks pretty much new when cleaned.

[tanks350x]

Mine is powder coated, there is pros and cons with powder coat. This stuff is thick and strong, but can be difficult when its time to reassemble, not to mention running a tap through everthing with threads. Do what you can and afford. My buddy has a top notch tecate with a painted frame. Hell it looks better than mine thats powder coated. My next build will be paint.....by far cheaper in materials, and in my opinion will probably be easier to work with.

When you say that you have to run a tap through all the threads, I beg to differ, When my frame was powdered, the shop (specializes in motorcycles and atv's) put a bolt in every hole that they could find... So, I think that it's just a matter of who does the job and how exp. they are with these kind of frames. The average PC'er that doesn't do them all the time, isn't gonna know how many things actually bolt on to it... just my .02... back on topic, I was going to have it painted but, if you look at how much a quart of red costs, it's pretty high on price as well.. I think if you put about 4 coats of clear coat on it you should be good to go on the durability aspect...
Just so you know, my frame only cost me $225, soup to nutts to have it powdered:naughty: :naughty:

[x.system]

What are you guys paying to powder coat your frames? I pay $120 which includes sandblasting to bare metal. I couldn't come close to that with my time and materials spent on paint. I must be lucky. IMO powdercoating is the way to go, it is the most durable. All the factory race mx teams PC their frames too.

I have to agree, powder over paint on frames for sure. I pay $100 for trike frames and $150 for trx frames which includes the blasting and plugging every hole. My last trx frame has 3 good years of abuse and not one single chip in it anywhere. Finding the right powdercoater is the key, anybody can powder parts but does it hold up to the hammer test? If it chips off it wasn't prepped right and should be returned and done right.

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I haven't found anywhere around here that will blast and powder coat for anything under $200. I don't know how a couple of you are getting lucky to find quality work for $100.