Paint vs Powder Coat: Pros and Cons

[Ron Fox]

What are the pros and cons of Paint vs Powder coat? I know in general the paint can be worked and made to a slick finish. Is powder coat able to be brought out to a slick, show finish? If the powder coat is ever damaged would it be difficult to repair vs paint?

I am trying to deceide what to use on my original or aftermarket subframe. I want it to be a slick, show like finish.

Thanks for the help.

[CamaroAJ]

not sure about gas and some oils but carb and brake cleaner took the powder coating off a frame i had. well it made it soft enough to wipe off untill it dried and got hard again. never looked the same though.

[Ron Fox]

Did you ever try to re-do that one area or did you just leave it alone?

[Ketzer]

Paint can be touched up a lot easier. Mask off an area and re-shoot.

Powder is a lot more durable (except for a select few chemicals... which would also be pretty rough on paint too if not careful). Touch ups would require re-cooking that area to 350-400. Difficult while still assembled.

[CamaroAJ]

Did you ever try to re-do that one area or did you just leave it alone?

no, it was one of my race bikes and it was towards the bottom of the frame so it would get beat up from dirt and rocks anyways.

[Ron Fox]

Paint can be touched up a lot easier. Mask off an area and re-shoot.

Powder is a lot more durable (except for a select few chemicals... which would also be pretty rough on paint too if not careful). Touch ups would require re-cooking that area to 350-400. Difficult while still assembled.

Sounds like paint is the way to go on a subframe even though powder is more durable. I would hate to damage a powder coated subframe.

[Ron Fox]

On my 67 Camaro, I had my Ford 9-Inch powder coated and DSE had another company do the powder coating. The powder was base coat and clear coat. My bodyman installed the rear-end and the powder coat cracked. You can't fix powder coat. So, it was sanded down and repainted with a single stage paint that has a clear coat in it. Paint you can always touch up or blend in. Also, if you are looking for special paint. Well, it is not always available in powder coat. I was looking for a Marina blue for my DSE subframe, but it wasn't available in powder.

Jeff

P.S. I talked to Kyle Tucker about powder coating and on their show cars. They use paint on the parts.

Wonder how often powder cracks?

Did you go with powder or paint on your sub?

[IndyNova]

I'm painting mine, it's gonna be driven, and I'd rather spend the money I saved from powdercoating on something else for the car. If it's a trailer queen, then powder coat, but if ur going to drive it, I'd paint it, my .02

[Ron Fox]

I'm painting mine, it's gonna be driven, and I'd rather spend the money I saved from powdercoating on something else for the car. If it's a trailer queen, then powder coat, but if ur going to drive it, I'd paint it, my .02

I want a show quailty car with details but I plan on driving the car every chance I get.

[IndyNova]

Me too, but it's gonna gets chips and nicks in it driving it, and u can't touch up powder

[Ron Fox]

Me too, but it's gonna gets chips and nicks in it driving it, and u can't touch up powder

Is there any type of material or coating that could be put over the powder to cut down on the prevention of chips?

[NsaneHotrodz]

I'd go ahead and paint it. If the subframe has any imperfections in it, they will show with powder coating. Good luck!

[Ron Fox]

I'd go ahead and paint it. If the subframe has any imperfections in it, they will show with powder coating. Good luck!

My builder advises me to use paint. So paint sounds like the way to go.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Sorry I am late to the party Ron, I just found your email looking for my opinion.

Paint is absolutely the way to go. Subframes are never perfect and powder coating amplifies the imperfections. With paint you get a chance to prime, even fill if needed, smooth and color. Also mentioned is the touch up ability of paint vs powder coat.

It is funny because everyday I get someone wanting to powder coat their rear end, subframe, to protect it because they do not think paint is good enough.

Then I ask them, "What do you think takes more abuse? You rear end under you car? Or the lower quarter panels that are having stones thrown at them by the tires?

Paint works on the lower quarters, it will work on your rear.

I think a lot of the illusion comes from people comparing the condition of their original rear / frame they removed. The original cars were rusty before they came off the truck. I remember looking at new cars on car carriers and seeing all orange surface rust. Those factory rears and frames got washed with a paint GM used to sell that said on the car you could paint your rubber floor mats with it to! good stuff, LOL!

So we paint it just like it is the outer body. Sandbalst it to bare metal, epoxy primer and urethane top coat.

[Ron Fox]

Sorry I am late to the party Ron, I just found your email looking for my opinion.

Paint is absolutely the way to go. Subframes are never perfect and powder coating amplifies the imperfections. With paint you get a chance to prime, even fill if needed, smooth and color. Also mentioned is the touch up ability of paint vs powder coat.

It is funny because everyday I get someone wanting to powder coat their rear end, subframe, to protect it because they do not think paint is good enough.

Then I ask them, "What do you think takes more abuse? You rear end under you car? Or the lower quarter panels that are having stones thrown at them by the tires?

Paint works on the lower quarters, it will work on your rear.

I think a lot of the illusion comes from people comparing the condition of their original rear / frame they removed. The original cars were rusty before they came off the truck. I remember looking at new cars on car carriers and seeing all orange surface rust. Those factory rears and frames got washed with a paint GM used to sell that said on the car you could paint your rubber floor mats with it to! good stuff, LOL!

So we paint it just like it is the outer body. Sandbalst it to bare metal, epoxy primer and urethane top coat.

Thanks Frank for your input. I want a show/detailed car eventhough I am going to be driving it as much as I can.

Just a thought but why does DSE use powder coat on their frames?

Thanks.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Same reason I sell rears with powder coat. Because people want it.

Thanks Frank for your input. I want a show/detailed car eventhough I am going to be driving it as much as I can.

Just a thought but why does DSE use powder coat on their frames?

Thanks.

[carbuff]

What do you do / suggest to protect the inside of the frame rails? Kinda hard to spray paint 4' down into those long rails? :)

[Ron Fox]

The subframe is painted Marina blue. Sorry, can do it in powder.
Here is a few photos of mine done in paint.

Jeff


Very nice, show quility subframe. What process did you use on you sub? Did you grind any welds down, add any welds, mud, or seam weld the front cross section?

I like the color. What type of car is it going under (my guess is a '67 Camaro) and what color is the body going to be? Show car or driver? My exterior of my '69 will be Gold (and my under body will probably be gold also) and the best color for my sub would be black but I want to look at other color options other than black. I thought maybe a dark silver or dark gray. A light gray would probably be washed out by the gold color.

Did you use flakes in your paint?

More photos would be appreciated if you have any.

Thanks.

[Ron Fox]

Same reason I sell rears with powder coat. Because people want it.


Do most of your customers want powder over paint?

[Ron Fox]

What do you do / suggest to protect the inside of the frame rails? Kinda hard to spray paint 4' down into those long rails? :)

That's one of my questions also. Would some sort of extension work? Or maybe just spray an abundant amount of material and let in drain down the sides. Not sure.

Any suggestions anyone?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Do most of your customers want powder over paint?


No, most of them take my advise. But then there are those that..................

[ProdigyCustoms]

That's one of my questions also. Would some sort of extension work? Or maybe just spray an abundant amount of material and let in drain down the sides. Not sure.

Any suggestions anyone?

The painter can put the gun on a point pattern so the gun is spraying almost a straight line so he can spray down the inside rails.

We flood the inner rails and then let it sit 15 minutes or so and wipe up anything that runs out of crevises if it puddles, then we spray the outer frame

Powder coat won't go as far as paint will.

[Neil B]

What I could never figure out is why subframe connectors designed to be welded in are powder coated by the manufacturer.

[Ron Fox]

What I could never figure out is why subframe connectors designed to be welded in are powder coated by the manufacturer.

Seems like it would be easier to paint them but what do I know :lol: