Noob Question painting vs powder coating frame

[Rodney]

I am a novice to world of motorcycles, but i have a CL350 '73, and I am cutting the excess partoff the frame and beefing up spot welds, I am a big boy. So for the next step I need the frame to be colored Ducati red. Should I powder coat or have it painted? Is one tougher, in resistance to scratches? I have a few friends who are po painters and I would like to use them for the other themed parts, but I need to know what is better.

 

[DrJ]

Paint looks better, it's crisper and brighter but more difficult and time consuming to apply. Powdercoating is much tougher and lasts much longer than paint. But it can be thick and blobby if not applied with finesse. If you want the best looking finish go for paint, the most durable go for powdercoating.

 

[Rodney]

Thanks!! That's exactly hat i wanted to know, so Paint it is.

 

[CanadaDan]

Not to mention the colour matching superiority of paint vs powder... tell the powder coater you want Ducati Red you get red... the same red every other customer gets. When I wanted paint & powder to match I had the powder done first and had the painters match it.

But I have to say powder is damn tougher than paint. Be careful on reassembly. Lots of tape and towels.

 

[chrisf]

Paint looks better, it's crisper and brighter but more difficult and time consuming to apply. Powdercoating is much tougher and lasts much longer than paint. But it can be thick and blobby if not applied with finesse. If you want the best looking finish go for paint, the most durable go for powdercoating.

I agree 100%. I like paint better, but to do it right, it takes a LOT of time.

--Chris

 

[Rodney]

Chris,
I had been researching through your page before I even got my cl. Thanks for the tips, more questions will be following

 

[Tim]

Well, I like my powdercoat so nah nah. Of course, I don't have any paint on my bike - just powdercoat black and polished aluminum

 

[Ease]

I tried and tried to find someone to powdercoat my frame and it seems like it's impossible to have it dont in St. John's.

Ugh.

 

[Tim]

Check for 'metal coating' - some of these guys might do it or might know who does. Surely someone there must do it. If not, open a business!

http://www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/1/metal+coating/st.+johns

 

[Ease]

Check for 'metal coating' - some of these guys might do it or might know who does. Surely someone there must do it. If not, open a business!

http://www.yellowpages.ca/search/si/1/metal+coating/st.+johns

Yeah I called Atlantic and left about 10 messages before deciding not to bother with it and spending my $250.00 budget somewhere else.

I may try them again when I have the Katana frame bare... Otherwise it's POR15 and spray bombs!

P.S. Thanks for doing that extra legwork! Gotta love this place.

 

[dcmspikes]

the POR15 is for bare metal right? how does one apply it? im always making crap like the cage in my avatar thing and want to leave it bare, but at my house it rusts in about 4.3 minutes. id love to strip a tank to bare metal and coat it clear.

 

[Ease]

the POR15 is for bare metal right? how does one apply it? im always making crap like the cage in my avatar thing and want to leave it bare, but at my house it rusts in about 4.3 minutes. id love to strip a tank to bare metal and coat it clear.

With a foam brush that comes with the kits...

I was speaking to a guy yesterday at NAPA and he said it dries super smooth.

POR15 is black though. Paintable, but not a clearcoat.

 

[chrisf]

PM Mysta2. He has a clearcoat made by POR that can be applied to bare metal. It is supposed to work great. Regular POR is not UV stable and will fade/discolor in sunlight.

-_Chris