Frame Powdercoating

[makenzie71]

Sorry...black oxide.  Not the same, I know, but same result.

[John Bates]

ok powder coating is NOT the way to go.  It's messy, it's not permanent, it's hard to get to setup.  .......................................

Hey Mak, where did you get this opinion.  Do you know someone who tried it and failed?

If you're talking about an inexperienced do-it-yourself job then maybe your right but done correctly, powder coating is perfect for frames. It's done all the time.  From show bikes to ordinary street bikes.  I know because my son is a professional powder coater. He has his own business and has been doing it for years.

[The Buddha]

Yea my powdercoater guy also does an extrordinary job. I have had sheite done years and years ago ... try like 6 years ... and it does get dulled by constant exposure to gas, but the color and powder itself is intact. Just goes flat.
Oxide coating though I will bet is harder and more durable while being thinner. They do tools etc with it. Its an alternative to chrome. BTW how is it cheaper though ... no one here does it, ergo it has to be $$$ and I have seen sheite rust under chrome ... why wont that happen with oxide. Smooth flat and ripple/crevice free surfaces do great, like socket sets, but the welds and the nooks and crannies in a frame are definetly trouble.
Cool.
Srinath.

[makenzie71]

I don't like powdercoating because, evetually, it breaks down an flakes off.  Of course people do it all the time...enamel is cheap and the work is straight foward.  It's just not durable and when it starts flaking off, it looks horrible.

Anodizing (black oxide with steels) is FAR more durable, looks better, is easier, you don't have to tape off or cut the enamel off of bolt holes (which causes cracks in the coating) and it's often cheaper...and it's a tremendous cut in down time.  The parts are dipped in a bath to clean everything off the metal, then coated either with spray or dipped in a vat.  Pull it out, let it dry, put the bike back together...takes a couple hours at most.   We tore an EX500 down one morning, had the frame coated while the engine got a little reworking in the shop, and had the bike back on the street that night.



...no texture, either.  Looks like the natural color of the metal.

[John Bates]

.............................
Anodizing (black oxide with steels) is FAR more durable, looks better, is easier, you don't have to tape off or cut the enamel off of bolt holes (which causes cracks in the coating) and it's often cheaper...and it's a tremendous cut in down time.  The parts are dipped in a bath to clean everything off the metal, then coated either with spray or dipped in a vat.  Pull it out, let it dry, put the bike back together...takes a couple hours at most.   We tore an EX500 down one morning, had the frame coated while the engine got a little reworking in the shop, and had the bike back on the street that night.

...no texture, either.  Looks like the natural color of the metal.

The frame looks great, I hope it holds up for you.

My meager understanding of black oxide is that it's actually iron oxide (rust) that is colored black by the chemicals used. The part, therefore, must be further treated with oil or wax to make it resistant to additional oxidizing which would give it a reddish color.  Some sources state that black oxide finish is not suitable for outdoor use where rain and salt contamination can occur.