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

[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

[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

[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 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.