How Does Powdercoating Work?

[LBZ]

I've had bits and pieces and a set of wheels powdercoated, all with good results, but I am curious if you can do just one side of a piece of a material, or like on a set of rims if you wanted to do two different colours if it's possible.

I would like to do the compressor cover on the Danville turbo I am going to buy as well as valve covers and top coolant pipe and was wondering if or can they just do one side if you want or do they have to do the whole thing and then you have to remove the coating from the side you don't want it on such as the inside of the compressor cover?

No idea how powder coating works, just know I like the end product better than paint.

 

[mike diesel]

They can do one side. The powder has an electrical charge, the piece being sprayed has an opposite electrical charge, the powder is attracted to the piece. Mask off the side you don't want sprayed and your good to go. Powder coating is plastic based, that is why it needs to be baked on.

 

[LBZ]

Gotcha.
I knew there was electricity and baking involved but that is the extent of my knowledge.

 

[mike diesel]

Usually the shop doing the work will do the masking and what not. Just tell them what you don't want sprayed.

 

[Porno Joe]

I powdercoat all of my own stuff and have done all of the pieces you want to do before.

there is special high heat tape so best to let the shop do the masking. you can sometimes spray the powder onto the piece and then just wipe it off before you bake it. its just like dust until you actually bake it. just did my valve covers in December. I masked one off, and got so tired of masking that for the second I just spray it then wiped the powder off the gasket surface before baking. no leaks

 

[minerigger]

^he does a good job to. Coated my 366 kit and it has held up great