If you are looking for ways to protect your wheels, powder coating them may be the best way to do it. Waxman of Tristate Car Detailing Center offers exceptional services that extend the life of your vehicle and give it the quality care it deserves. They help you understand powder coating better, how it performs on wheels, and what protective properties it provides. The expert detailers also help prevent aluminum pitting and corrosion. Visit today for professional powder coating services and other exciting options to safeguard your investment and enjoy a ride you can proudly show off.
Powder coating has been around since 1945, but in the past few years, it has become increasingly popular among car owners who seek protection for every imaginable surface on their vehicles. With advanced machinery and latest materials, powder coating enhances the overall appearance and longevity of a wheel that needs an updated finish.
Specialized equipment is used for this purpose. It charges the paint powder electrostatically to be deposited onto the metal parts correctly and in the required thickness. These days’ powder coating is enjoying success in the automotive sector as it can be shot on any material that can withstand extreme temperatures, particularly wheels.
Is Powder Coating a Good Idea?
Powder coating your car wheel rims creates a durable surface that protects wheels much better than a regular paint job. Powder coating is a paint that bakes in an oven to flow out and harden to a beautiful, smooth finish. It is an effective solution for protecting or customizing untreated alloys, making it the perfect application for many car components.
Like any other coating product, the key to getting the powder coat to stick is having a clear surface with which it can bond nicely. Powder coating professionals use some form of acid bath to strip away old paint, protective clear coat, or oil from the vehicle, followed by a thorough sandblasting process to ensure success.
Powder Coating – What Is It All About?
Powder coating is an electrically bonded powder that sticks to materials when sprayed with the help of a specialized process called “electrostatic attraction.” As the atomized paint molecules are sprayed onto the objects, they create a layer that sticks or gets baked into the surface with extreme heat. Once it is allowed to cool, the material is then sprayed with a second layer of electrostatically charged media, which is a clear coat. The object is put in the oven one more time before it cools completely, after which it is ready for use.
Powder coating has become a perfect application for several car components, including alloy wheels. It creates a durable surface that protects your wheels and gives them a fresh appearance. It is also used for corrosion protection. Read on to learn what powder coating your wheels is all about, how it works, and if it is a good idea.
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Why Do Car Owners Use Powder Coating?
In the automotive industry, powder coating is widely used on off-road racing vehicles as it protects surfaces from sand, stone chips, mud, desert heat, and other organic varieties. It is available in every color and can be finished in various matt or gloss levels, making it a popular option among vehicle owners. There are two reasons why car owners opt for powder coating. Protection from corrosion, scratches, rock chips, acid rain, harsh chemicals, and other unwanted elements tops the list, but it is the variety of customizable combos that really attract people towards it.
Some people think powder coating adds additional weight to wheels. While it may add some grams to the overall weight of the wheel, it does not affect its balance or performance.
How Is Powder Coating Applied?
The powder coating process involves seven essential steps.
They include:
- Surface stripping, cleaning, and preparation
- Colored powder coating application
- First round of baking
- Cooling
- Clear coating application
- Second round of baking
- Final cool-down
Proper prep work plays a crucial role in the powder coating application process. As powder coating electrically bonds to whatever surface it strikes, removing all types of contamination, blemishes, or road rash from the wheels is necessary before the application process can start. Whether brand new or old, a set of wheels is only ready for powder application after it has undergone the prep stages.
The Chemical Soak
Soaking the wheels in a specialized chemical stripping solution is the first step to powder coating. Once rinsed and stripped of residue and all contaminants, including any paint or coating, the wheel’s aluminum alloy underside is ready for adhesion.
The Powder Coating Application Process
The process of powder coating a set of wheels includes the following steps:
- Base spray – Each wheel is suspended from a hook in the paint booth. The wheels are sprayed with a base layer of powder coating, which provides both a core color and a smooth foundation for a clear coat.
- The quick bake – Once the first coat is applied, the wheels are hung on a metal rack and pushed into an industrial oven or kiln where high temperatures, about 400° Fahrenheit or 204° Celsius, help the coating to stick to the surface. Bake times for the first round are quick and take about 20 minutes.
- Cool down and clear coat application – After they are removed from the oven, the wheels are allowed to cool and reach room temperature before they are resprayed with a clear coat. While satin powder coats do not turn out well, gloss clear coats work great, making them a popular option for powder coaters. It is essential to note that a clear powder coat comes out milky white and does not turn transparent till it is baked.
- The big bake – Once the wheels are entirely covered with the clear coat, they are put into the kiln again for a final bake for about 35-45 minutes, at the same high temperatures.
- Rest and rubber – After the final bake is complete, the wheels are left to cool. At this stage, high-temp protective tape, hooks, and center hub plugs are removed, the wheels are given valve steams, and wrapped in fresh rubber.
Pros and Cons of Powder Coating Your Wheels
If you want to improve the overall look of your wheels, powder coating offers a great solution. An electrically blended powder is sprayed onto the metal and baked to help it fuse and form a strong coating on the wheel surface.
Pros of powder coating include:
- It can be used on multiple materials – The powder coating technique works well on several different materials, including aluminum, electroplated steel, mild steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and steel alloys.
- It makes wheels more durable – Powder coating the wheel rims adds a layer of protection, which makes them durable and helps them withstand harsh conditions and resist damage. The coating is lasting and offers color durability as well. When a thermoset powder coating is fully cured, it forms an incredibly strong bond with the surface and prevents dings, scratches, and corrosion.
- It is environment friendly – Unlike liquid finishes or paint coverings that contain harmful pollutants and pose a risk to the ozone layer and your health, powder coating does not consist of any solvents. Overspray within the booth is minimal, and fumes are practically non-existent, which makes it environment-friendly. Clean-up also does not require solvents as there is no liquid to remove.
- It is inexpensive – Even though the pricing varies, depending on the installer, wheel complexity, size, and material used, the average powder costing job for a set of wheels costs about $400 to 500 a set. It is a reasonable amount considering the benefits they offer. Also, its effects are more durable and long-lasting, which makes it a more cost-effective option in the long run.
- It offers better coverage – The complex design of wheel rims often makes it tough for the standard paint to reach certain nooks and crannies. Powder coating provides better coverage, especially in difficult-to-reach places of the wheel rim.
Cons of powder coating include:
- It is costly – Powder coating is pricey for people who seek little more than a quick aesthetic upgrade as many wheel manufacturers offer entire sets of wheels at the same price. Also, small batches can be expensive if there is nothing else to cover with the same color.
- Touching up may be difficult – If your powder coating rims need reworking, touching up may be difficult. You may find it easier to have them all cleaned and start fresh than refreshing smaller areas.
- It does not give a thin coat – It is not the ideal choice if you want to create a light surface for a specific appearance. You will end up with a thick finish that can withstand harsh conditions. Also, larger wheel parts take longer to dry, requiring adequate healing and cooling time.
- It may result in an unbalanced color – Once the coating is cured, you may find that thinner sections appear a slightly different color to thicker sections.
- It does not have hydrophobic properties – Powder coating does not contain hydrophobic properties, which means brake dust, grime, fresh asphalt road salt, or any other type of dirt will stick to a freshly coated wheel’s surfaces.
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DIY Ceramic Coating vs. Powder Coating
Car owners often find it hard to determine if a DIY ceramic coating is a better wheel protectant than a powder coating. Powder coating is an outstanding solution for protecting or customizing your wheels. You can further protect your investment with a layer of transparent ceramic coating that adds more durability and makes the colors truly pop out. Getting a 9H-rated ceramic coating on the wheels, straight from the factory can repel many contaminants. When applied to a brand-new wheel, it can add a deep layer of gloss that is impossible to ignore.
A nano-technology infused ceramic coating is safe for several types of wheels, including aluminum, chrome, carbon fiber, and steel. The good thing about it is that it can be applied on powder coating for the most resilient one-two punch for wheels as road grime and liquids bounce off the surface. Remember, powder coating a wheel will protect it from alloy-eating contaminants and keep small scratches at bay, but powder coating can scruff off if it is hit hard enough or exposed to corrosive chemicals for long.
Powder Coating Colors
Powders are available in several colors, including white, silver, black, bronze, gold, red, and many others. You can choose from hundreds of shades and finishes, or you can ask a professional to help you find the color of your choice.
For most people, black powder is the most preferred color. It has many finishes, from high gloss to satin and matte. It is a good choice due to its durable color consistency and ability to offer a more aggressive, sporty look to any vehicle.
Powder coating is a great way to improve the overall look of your wheels. Wheel rims can make or break the look of your car. While buying custom rims may not be affordable for everyone, refinishing your rims by investing in powder coating is the best idea as compared to buying new wheels. Call Waxman of Tristate Car Detailing Center to speak to a pro and find out more about powder coating your car wheels and other parts. You can look forward to a durable, quality surface coat and finish that looks amazing.
