Paint vs Powder Coat: Pros and Cons - Lateral-g Forums

Ron Fox · #1 07-20-2010, 07:18 AM

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** · #2 07-20-2010, 09:51 AM

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 · #3 07-20-2010, 11:06 AM

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

**Ketzer** · #4 07-20-2010, 11:19 AM

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** · #5 07-20-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Fox

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 · #6 07-20-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · #7 07-20-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky67

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 · #8 07-21-2010, 06:12 AM

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 · #9 07-21-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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

IndyNova · #10 07-21-2010, 10:00 AM

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