Ducati Monster Forum

Hey guys,
I'm looking to take some parts off my bike and have them powder coated but I was wondering if you could give me a general idea of cost? Do they charge per piece? Is it cheaper if it's all one color? Do I have to do any prep work on the pieces? I want to do my rearsets, passenger pegs, headlight ring and bracket and if I could figure out how to, my triples as well. Also if you happen to know a good one in S. Florida, even better!
Thanks!

Powder coaters generally price by how much of a rack you take up, and what color.

Often times with small parts and common colors (i.e. black) they have racks that are not quite full that they can add your pieces to for cheap.

Media blasting should be included in the price.

I had a clutch cover done in black for 20 bucks.

A swing arm in Ti gray was coated for 70. Find a recommended one, or have a small test piece done by an unknown place before buying a full or half rack.

I did both rearsets, kick stand, head light bezel, CW short tail, passenger pegs, & the weird wings that hold the passenger pegs, & the exhaust hangers all in black for $180. That seemed about right for where I live.

Contact my Buddy Sean over at "The Powder Pro" --->
He did all the coating on my Ducati (came out great).
Mention Half Fast CHicago and he will give ya deal [thumbsup]

I just had a frame and swingarm sandblasted and Powdercoated for $200

did that $$ include prep work ?

I think i got ripped off then.   :'(

depends a lot on where you live. they have to pay for rent/property tax too.

Over here in NYC, the cheapest i could find for prep/powder on ONE 5spoke wheel was $150.

I had a frame, 2 wheels, top and bottom triples, and a bunch of other smaller pieces coated (including media blasting and prep) for $350 here in Seattle. The frame was also a different color from everything else.

Make sure when you are comparing prices you are comparing process/labor involved.

I've had wheels/frames in the past which I had coated FIRST in a thinner "primer" process.  Then the "color" process over the top of that.  Result is smoother transitions on factory frame welds.  (some shops do this as part of their "regular service" and billable -- some shops just coat as if it was an industrial fencepost in terms of quality finish desired)

Also I've had done THIRD coat overlays with light metallic in a clear powdercoat applied.

Other item is the cost of media used.  If you are doing standard colors ala 100% gloss, that is pretty standard.  But some of the shops I've used in the past will have a 65% gloss black or other oddball color combination available without having to special order media. (ie: they have it in stock)

Also remember with powdercoating, you can take a color sample to most good shops and they can forward to their supplier who have the matching spectroanalysis machines.  Custom mix colors aren't that expensive to do.  I think my worse bill was $55 to get an oddball gold color matched as well as a Ferrari red to perfection to other items already on the bike.

It also depends on the coater, and their overhead.  Here in Vegas I can get wheels done at a really nice building for $150/ ea or in a shed for $40, and just about every price in between.

I had a grille on my volvo powdercoated for $20 bucks or so, including media blasting, it came out SWEET

 [thumbsup]

Adam

I had my rearsets, brake/shifter levers, passenger pegs and mounts, rear spring, rear suspension linkage, top and bottom triples, handlebar clamps, front fender mounts, and 2 heat shields done for $400.

The price included all prep work, even grinding down the casting lines on the triples and rearsets.

Thanks everyone for the info. Now all I need is a weekend of tropical thunderstorms and a bonus check and off to the powder coaters!

damien, im in the tampa/ sarasota area,
and used www.paradisepowdercoating.com (http://), local shop
talk to larry, see how backed up they are....
did passenger and operator rearsets/ pillions and a few small odds and ends for their minimum set-up price of $96....
came out perfect.

had my frame sand blasted for $25 at a local big rig paint shop...then powder coated for $90 at R Spoor Coatings in Endicott, NY.

(http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq186/justinfisher2/CIMG1409.jpg)

All that's left is to do something with that unsightly pipe.  [laugh]
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AussieMark/IMG_2878.jpg)

you're definitely right about doing something with the pipe....although that's certainly not 'all' that's left to do...

You have a good point.  [laugh]

Powder coating can be pricey, but if you have the shop space you can do it yourself and maybe make a few bucks powder coating for other folks too. It not hard to do but you need an old oven. Do not use your wife's oven it will ruin it.

Eastwood sells powder coating kits you can get a whole starter kit with colors for under $200. Then go to a thrift store and pick up an old oven and you are in business. The problem is having the shop space to do it.

http://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder-coating.html (http://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder-coating.html)

Thanks man, I'll check them out.

Some of the locals are less than impressed with the eastwood kit.

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25586.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25586.0)

if you're going to buy a hobby gun. Go with HF unit. These started guns are fine for SUPER light duty work. and work fine for very very thin powders on very simple objects. I tried doing a wheel with mine, it wont adhere to a 90 degree corner because the ionized particles push each other away. It also wont work with objects larger than a wheel. I think thats what might of ended up breaking the gun. I had my hand held down on the trigger for almost 3 whole minutes. Either way, i ended up only paying $120 bucks to get my wheels/swingarm/rearsets powder coated. And i still have enough powder and propane to powder 5 more sets of wheels 10 swingarms and more!

So I ended up dropping $300 bones on a brand new Hypersmooth pony 50kv adjustable gun and have plans for a larger gas oven that fits motorcycle frames!

Interesting ive never read any reviews on this system. Good to know.

I dug a little and found this article.

http://powdercoatingbeginners.blogspot.com/2008/09/powder-coating-equipment.html (http://powdercoatingbeginners.blogspot.com/2008/09/powder-coating-equipment.html)

The corner issue is present with all powder guns. It's called the Faraday cage effect. It's a technique thing. Read up on it.