anyone tried sandblast+clear powder coat?

[overdraft]

i'm looking for something to approximate the factory finish on things like fork lowers and hubs... i think the mirror shine of polishing is a bit too slick for the look i'm going for... the factory seemed to have a satin sort of finish with a clear coat on it. i'm thinking that sandblasting and then hitting them with clear powder coat might be a similar finish. anyone tried this that can tell me whether i'm on crack or not?
thanks!

 

[Krixxer]

Sandblasting may be a bit rough no?

When I polished up my stuff I discovered Greaseless compounds. The 320 I used leaves a nice dull gun metal like finish that looks like it would take well to P/C or paint. For $15 it won't brake the bank and you can still blast if you don't like it.

 

[CCRider]

I just glass bead blasted and clear coated my Honda handlebar switch housings. I think it looks really good but I can't comment on the durability yet.

CC

 

[Rich84vw]

i wanted to do somehting similar to this on my bike but a bunch of hot rod/chopper people who i consider to know what they are doing told me it would rust under the clear after a few seasons. Being right on the east coast (about 20 minutes from the atlantic), any prospect of rust terrifies me so i didn't do it.

 

[souperman]

A maroon scotch brite pad left a nice smooth satin finish on my fork tubes. All I did was wax it after that and it seems to be holding up OK.

 

[overdraft]

told me it would rust under the clear after a few seasons.

aluminum alloys are a bit more resistant to rust than steel. i think you'd get away with quite a few years before you'd see any corrosion under the powder coat. the factory clear coat which i'll wager isn't as good as clear powder coating, seems good for what, 10 years anyway.... and then i think it's more that the clear coat fails and allows the alloy to corrode, rather than it corroding on it's own.

 

[overdraft]

A maroon scotch brite pad left a nice smooth satin finish on my fork tubes. All I did was wax it after that and it seems to be holding up OK.

my first up part is the front hub... with all the spoke holes and the cooling fins in the middle i just don't see being able to get a consistent finish by rubbing at it... although i can see how with a simpler shape like forks it could work. maybe i'll try soda blasting it! there's a thread somewhere on how to make a cheapy one. anyone know what sorta psi you'd need for that?