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powder coating
joolsmi16 - 9/1/13 at 10:34 PM

HI all, just had a few bits back from the powder coater today and the larger surface areas etc fuel tank ect has "orange peel" is this the norm for powder coating or should the it be a mirror finish.

thanks

Jools

cps13 - 9/1/13 at 10:41 PM

everything i have ever had powder coated were mirror finish.

apart from a large block of metal which due to thickness was a poor finish as they baked it for too long and the metal heated up. It was coated white and went "yellowy" and "peely".

joolsmi16 - 9/1/13 at 10:48 PM

Thats what I had thought just wanted to confirm, will take them back.

Cheers

snakebelly - 10/1/13 at 03:47 AM

I don't actually think e orange peel effect is that rare, most chassis I have seen that are powder coated have an element of orange peel, I think it's down to the amount applied, the thicker it is the more chance of orange peel. The best powder oat I have ever seen was our old roll cage which was coated in an orange and black tiger effect, people just wouldn't believe it was powder oat and insisted it was paint the finish was so good, it never chipped in 2 years of race use either.

mcerd1 - 10/1/13 at 09:48 AM

I've just got bog std. satin black on my chassis and various other bits in high gloss red etc.. - no "orange peel" in sight, but then the guy I use isn't the cheapest

Slimy38 - 10/1/13 at 10:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by snakebelly
I don't actually think e orange peel effect is that rare, most chassis I have seen that are powder coated have an element of orange peel, I think it's down to the amount applied, the thicker it is the more chance of orange peel.


I thought that was one of the benefits of powder coat though, because it's applied with an electrical charge it becomes self-limiting and can't get too thick?

A1 - 10/1/13 at 01:35 PM

Doesn't it depend on the quality of the metal underneath?

Ive had parts done that have had orange peel, but cause the metal underneath was badly rusted to start with.

mcerd1 - 10/1/13 at 04:28 PM

^^ could explain why my parts are good - the guy I use always blasts/dips them before coating

fullpint - 12/1/13 at 07:44 AM

All parts must be clean. Depending upon the metal being coated this can result in the finish. A fuel tank (thin sheet metal) should come out looking great.
If the metal is not clean you can have a reaction when the power cures. Orange peel I would say is lack of coverage or under cured but with out knowing the process they used it could be a number of things. Perhaps they thought because its a fuel tank and not seen then the standard of finish may have been acceptable! If so they should have pointed this out to you prior to sending it.. Can you post a pic showing the peel?

snakebelly - 12/1/13 at 09:54 AM

you can put as many coats on as you like, it may be that as it was a fuel tank they thought the more the better for corrosion resistance?

A1 - 12/1/13 at 03:04 PM

oh no, sorry I was meaning the metal was pitted from the corrosion...
He always shotblasts first, but I imagine the pitting would effect the finish?
Im no expert on coating so may well be talking shoite!

joolsmi16 - 12/1/13 at 04:24 PM

I've taken the parts back and they are now being flatted and a powder coat lacquer applied.

The chap said orange peel is part of the process with powder coating.

fullpint - 12/1/13 at 04:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by A1
oh no, sorry I was meaning the metal was pitted from the corrosion...
He always shotblasts first, but I imagine the pitting would effect the finish?
Im no expert on coating so may well be talking shoite!

Once the corrosion has been blasted out it will leave pitting and depending upon the extent of the corrosion this can effect the overall finish after powder coating.
If the surface is clean and smooth after stripping and blasting then no orange peel effect should be present.

fullpint - 12/1/13 at 04:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by joolsmi16
I've taken the parts back and they are now being flatted and a powder coat lacquer applied.

The chap said orange peel is part of the process with powder coating.

If that is the case then what he's saying is that the powder coat clear lacquer will also come out with the orange peel effect!
Look forward to seeing the result when you get the parts back