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FAQ's Listed below are some of the more frequently asked questions. If you do not find the answer you are looking for please feel free to email me.
Q. Can you powder coat Carbon Fiber parts or frames? A. Yes, carbon fiber does not stand up to the baking process needed for powder coating however we often will liquid spray carbon forks to match the powder coated frame. This process is generally around 60.00.
Q. Can you remove the dent in my frame? A. Yes, Some minor dents we can massage out, it really depends on the extent of the damage. We also use hi-temp fillers and brass weld filler to smooth out the imperfections. Please send us a picture of the issue for a good assessment.
Q. Will media blasting hurt my frame? A. No. Media blasting is a safe and effective way to remove all the rust and paint from a frame. We use just enough pressure to remove the paint but not effect the frame in any way. On thin walled tubing we will use Glass Bead for a softer finish.
Q. Will the baking process hurt my frame? A. No! While there are some rare metals such as Scantium that are not suited for baking the vast majority of aluminum and steel frames are perfectly fine to powder coat. The temperature of the curing process is usually around 350-400 degrees for a short 10-15 minute time frame.
Q. Will the Powder Coating fill in the rust pitting on my frame? A. Yes, and no...if the pitting is deep it will still show. Minor pitting will usually fill in nicely.
Q. Do I need to take my bike completely apart or will you do it? A. We are a full service business. We will do as much, or as little, of the disassembly as you want. We have all the tools needed to take apart both new and vintage bicycles Please see our rate guide for pricing.
Q. Can you save my Head badge? A. Yes, we can usually salvage most metal head badges. Plastic and decal type badges do not fair so well. We can safely remove most steel or aluminum badges and reattach them after the coating process is complete.
Q. How is powder coating different than wet spray paint? A. Powder coating
is a dry electrostatic process where an polarized electric charge is applied to
the frame. The vinyl powder is charged with the opposite polarity. When the
powder is sprayed on the frame the electric charges cause the power to cling to
the frame. Once the frame has been evenly coated it is baked in a 400 degree
oven for 12 to 15 minutes. This causes the the vinyl powder to melt and fuse to
the surface of the frame. Q. Can you save my decals? A. No, the media
blasting process removes all decals, paint, oxidation, grease and other
materials. All that is left is bare metal. We do have an ever growing list of
replacement decal suppliers. A. If you
purchased the new "hi-temp A. It will depend on the
amount of work we will be doing but, generally, about 4-8 business days. A. Shipping is a separate cost. Typically the return shipping is 20-25.00.
A. Yes, in most cases
the chrome can be masked off for both the media blasting and powder coating
processes. Not all "Chrome" is created equal. On some lower end bikes what
appears to be "chrome" is actually paint, which will have to be removed. Good
quality chrome can be preserved. A. Because there are
hundreds of colors to choose from we do not inventory any colors other than
black, white and a clear top coat. Customers make there own powder purchase
direct from the supplier and have it shipped to our location. We recommend
www.powderbuythepound.com as a resource for your powder purchase. They carry a
broad range from very basic to candies, metallics, iridescents and pearlescents.
A. A standard frame and
fork requires 1 pound of powder (much of this ends up as “blow by”). Tandem bikes require three pounds of
powder. A. Powder coating is an
environmentally friendly process unlike solvent-based wet paint systems. Since
the powder coating process does not use solvents in any way, VOC emission
problems are eliminated. A. Powder coating
resists cracking and peeling and is extremely abrasion, corrosion and chemical
resistant. The durability of powder coating matchs or exceeds the
characteristics of conventional solvent-based coatings. Powder Coating is what
is now applied to almost all automotive finished today. A. Although you can have
your part sandblasted before you deliver it to us, it is not recommended. After
a part has been media blasted it is bare and exposed to the elements. Any
humidity in the air or perspiration from your hands will cause your frame to
begin oxidizing. The presence of this microscopic surface rust will compromise
the ability of the powder to adhere to the frame. For this reason, we cannot
guarantee the adhesion of the powder on any frame that has sandblasted by an
outside company. A. We have received
dozens of frames that were stripped by the owner. None have ever been clean
enough for the powder coating process. Save yourself the time, effort and
expense by letting us professionally media blast your frame. Chemical strippers
have to be thoroughly removed to avoid a reaction with the powder so we tend to
avoid them. Q. I had my frame powder coated by another shop and I am not happy with it, can you strip off the powder and do the job right? A. Yes, we have had to strip and repair several frames for customers who sent their work elsewhere and were not happy with the result. Stripping off powder coat is a tedious process but we can do it. It runs around and additional 25.00 to have the powder coat material removed.
More to come.......... |
