Powder coating wheels?

Hope I'm not flogging a deceased equine, but I didn't find a thread dedicated to this. I'm looking for experiences and knowledge about powder coating steel wheels vs. painting them.

I know there's supposed to be rusting issues where the center piece is riveted to the rim, I guess the powder doesn't flow into that seam? Was wondering if there's a fix for this, like Ospho in the seam, etc.

I think I read something recently about mixing some of the powder with a liquid of some kind, and brushing that into the seams first, then spraying the powder later?

I just like the thought of how tough powdercoating is. Also, has anybody here done this yourself at home? I'd have them blasted first by a pro.

 

Powder Coating is supposed to be easy some say. You need an oven to harden the powder you spray. I can't help you but if you can spend some money there is this. East Wood makes one but you need an air compressor. I think craftsman makes one too. Hope it helps.
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-30-psi-powder-coating-system-94244.html

 

I have come to be very skeptical of powder coated stuff. Maybe it's "tough" on the surface of a new part. But I see too many PC items destroyed by rot beneath the coating.

It seems to me rust and corrosion are trapped under any ding or chip and then spread rapidly, far worse than old fashioned paint.

I'd be interested to know if others have the same opinion.

 

Yeah, there's a LOT I want/need to know! I now have a dedicated oven, HF spray gun, powders, everything to do small parts. I'm >this< close to actually spraying something for a test trial, maybe today. I've already done 100+ lead bullets coated in red, but those were tumble coated, not sprayed. I plan to spray some too.

 

Wait you already had the spray gun?
Plan on getting the spray gun and some red and white powder.

 

Yes, I have a brand new, unused, Harbor Freight powdercoating kit. I also have a jar of HF red powder and HF matte black powder.

I have a used Kenmore kitchen range in great working condition, in my garage, for powdercoating only.

I just haven't tried spraying anything yet. I plan to do small parts in black, and lead bullets. I don't necessarily plan to do my own wheels.

What I'm asking is - has anybody got any real experience with having stock steel K-H wheels powdercoated?
Any rusting issues where the parts are riveted together?
Any solutions to the rusting?
Is powdercoating steel K-H wheels a good idea or not?

I'd pay a pro to do them right before I'd try to redneck it myself. I just wanna hear first-hand experiences.

 

I had a set of Pontiac steel Rally II wheels powdercoated, and never had any rust issues.
In the rust belt, it might be different, but in our climate I wouldn't worry about rust.

 

I paid a local outfit to do some 4.5"x15" wheels I found. Riveted and all. Looked REALLY good. I gave them to a buddy in trade.

I paid another outfit to do my 5.5"x15" wheels for my setup. I really like how they turned out. There are a few places where the coating 'bridges' the gap a little, my last guy did a good job of at least trying to bridge it evenly.

 

There is a HUGE difference between professional quality powdercoating and the DIY stuff. Not saying at all that DIY can't give good results but quality pro powdercoating with PROPER PREPARATION nets better results. The materials are simply better on the pro/industrial stuff.
Like any coating, whether paint, powdercoat, zinc plating, whatever, preparation is key. Bad prep, bad results.

 

I deal with two shops, one is a media blasting shop specializing in automotive parts, and he partners with a professional powdercoater. Drop off your parts, pick up freshly coated beauty. But yes, the cleaner YOU get them first, the better/cheaper it is for you. I'm gonna call the PC shop and ask them about the seams and rusting, and what they can do.

 

About a year ago I had 5 Jackman wheels blasted professionally and powder coated. They turned out beautiful and no problems since. However a Jackman wheel has no seams. The spokes are welded 360 to the rim. I am in the rust belt.

Fltfndr

 

I called the PC shop, and he said he's not had any reports/complaints about wheels rusting, but he said they clean the bejabbers out of them first and "spray things with phosphate first". Some kind of phosphoric acid treatment.

This shop did my frame, bumper, crossmember, and axle housings, and that chassis's been outside in the weather all winter long with no effects, so I think the wheels will be a safe bet. Just needs money now! The tires will be the huge expense. It's crazy how much even skinny pizza cutter tires cost!

 

I painted my wheels but have never been very happy with the way they came out. I will probably have them powder coated some day. But mine is a garage queen only driven on nice days so the possibilities of rust is not a huge concern of mine.

 

Maybe I didn't explain my concern very well in my earlier post,, about rust and powder coating.

I'm not really talking about the initial effect, but the longer-term life cycle.
For example my 25 year old (painted) snow plow is in great shape. The 10 year old (powder-coated) one is completely peeled and has swiss-cheese rust holes.
On my 97 ford truck the painted parts of the frame are rusted, but the powder-coated spring hangers rotted right off several years ago.

Just wondered if anyone else shared my concern that powder-coating creates rust traps "under the skin."

 

I built an off-raod trailer a number of years ago and had the entire trailer professionally powder coated. Two problems arose... 1.) The gravel flying into the powder-coated front metal surfaces created a tremendous number of chipped pockmarks over all exposed surfaces - rust started soon after. 2.) rust began under the powder coating on the steel bed of the trailer and eventually large flakes of powder coating peeled loose and exposed some nasty rust underneath.

I have since powder coated the forged aluminum wheels of my 80 series Landcruiser and they have held up very well.

It seems that powder coating steel is sometimes problematic and I will be painting all steel surfaces from now on. Further, I would recommend a two part epoxy primer under the paint.

 

Was looking thru my build thread, ran across these of the PC wheels with tires mounted on them.

http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/show...ntless-Project-the-Heep&p=1094362#post1094362

 

How's those holding up? Any use on 'em yet? My Jeep will be mostly a garage queen, it's not going to see hard use.

 

This might be the ultimate test. We would pull the wheels off of our salt trucks when they got overly rusty. We sent them out to the Goodyear Truck Tire Center where we bought our tires. They would blast them and powder coat them and send them back. The coated wheels held up better than the painted. I think it was about $30 a wheel. Of course it was any color as long as it was white.

 

If the powder coating is peeling off I would think it's an application problem. I sandblasted and then had the wheels on my 47 powder coated and they have held up well, but it doesn't rain here anymore.

 

1970 CJ5, 1 owner.
custom made steel wheels (backset)
powder coated for 30 years

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/348Win/redcloud2014025_zps11f7b453.jpg